Saddleback Scores Ten Runs in Seventh; Cruises to a 17-4 Win Over Riverside

RIVERSIDE – The Saddleback College Gauchos erupted for ten runs in the top of the seventh inning and cruised to a 17-4 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) victory over the host Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's baseball team Tuesday evening (Mar. 8) at the Evans Sports Complex.

Saddleback (11-3, 1-1 OEC) scored three runs in the top of the third and sixth innings for a 6-0 lead before RCC got on the board with a pair of scores in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 6-2.

But just as in the third and sixth frames when a pair of RCC errors aided the Gauchos' cause, another pair of errors opened the flood gates as Saddleback came up with ten runs (three earned) to essentially put the game away at 16-2. Gaucho DH Jared Donahoe capped the seventh-inning uprising with a two-out grand slam home run down the left-field line. It was Donahoe's only hit of the game in five atbats.

Riverside (11-4 overall, 1-1 OEC) added single tallies in the seventh and eighth innings and Saddleback scored once in the ninth for the 17-4 final. RCC opened OEC action last Saturday (Mar. 5) with a 5-3 win at Saddleback, thanks to a two-run ninth inning which broke a 3-3 tie.

Sophomore DH Michael Darr (Corona / Santiago HS '14) went two for four with a run scored and one RBI and freshman 2B Garrett McKee (Hemet / Hemet HS '15) also went two for four for RCC.

For Saddleback, CF/LF Kyle Candalla went two for five with two runs and two RBI, and 3B Brandon Heinrich went two for six with two runs scored and one RBI.

Starting RHP Domnique Key picked up his first victory of the season (1-0) to go along with two saves. Key went 5-2/3 innings and allowed two runs (earned) on five hits with zero walks. He struck out five.

RCC sophomore starting RHP Sabino Ramirez (Cathedral City / Cathedral City HS '14) – the first of five Tigers hurdlers – deserved a better fate. Ramirez (3-2) lasted 6.0 innings and allowed six runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks and struck out three. Ryan Avila -- who is pictured -- pitched the ninth inning.

Both team will conclude the three-game OEC set on Thursday, Mar. 10, when RCC visits Saddleback in a 2 p.m. start.

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