Late Fireworks Power ELAC to Pair of Comeback Wins
by Stephen Morales @grecomeco23
photos by Mario Villegas @marviljr
In the early part of the season, despite results not falling their way, the Huskies baseball team has shown a great amount of fight, with an offense keeping them in games until the end.
In their 3-game series, against the Wolverines of San Bernardino Valley College, that fight was rewarded as the Huskies came back twice to win the series 2-1 over the Wolverines.
After losing the first game in San Bernardino, the Huskies rallied from a 3-0 deficit at home and a 7-3 win. Back on the road for the rubber game, the Huskies did one better rallying from a 11-5 hole and earning a 12-11 ninth inning win for their first series win of the young season.
Following our recap of the two come from behind victories.
Friday February 6th, Huskies 7, Wolverines 3
In only the Huskies 3rd home game of the season, Phillip Chaidez took the mound and after a rocky third inning in which he gave up 3 runs, he would settle down and pitch seven strong innings striking out eight and allowing only two base runners over the final four innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Huskies offense roared to life. With one out, Moses Aguirre singled and moved to 2nd on a walk from Diego Valdez. With two strikes on him, Steven Segura laid down a perfect bunt into no man's land, and the Huskies had the bases loaded.
After a Wolverine pitching change, Mahki Clark worked out a walk and Aguirre scored the first run of the game. Camden Conklin then reached on a fielder's choice which allowed Valdez to score a 2nd run. After a walk to Alex Sotelo to reload the bases, Eli Altamirano hit a deep fly ball to center and allowed Segura to tie the game on a sacrifice fly. After Israel Espinoza was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, Chaidez helped himself out with a single to center scoring Conklin and Sotelo and giving the Huskies the 5-3 lead. Sotelo would add a two-run single in the 8th inning for the 7-3 lead. Javier Solis relieved Chaidez on the mound and struck out 2 in two innings of work to secure the win for the Huskies.
Saturday February 7th, Huskies 12, Wolverines 11
Back in San Bernardino, baseball fans were treated to a wild affair. The Huskies went down big early, 5-0 before recording an out and 6-0 after three innings. However, the fight was still there for the Huskies, and it started to show in the 4th inning.
After the Huskies loaded the bases with two outs, an Espinoza single scored Clark, followed by a walk to Chaidez which brought home Conklin. Aguirre finished with a single scoring Altamirano and Espinoza and the Huskies were right back in the game 6-4.
Unfortunately, the Huskies would give the four runs right back to the Wolverines in the bottom of the frame but would get one right back in the top of the 5th when Clark scored on an error. Down 10-5, many teams would falter but the Huskies pitching manned up and only allowed one run the rest of the way. They just needed the offense to fight back and boy did they ever.
In the sixth inning, a Segura single scored Chaidez and Aguirre would score on a fielder's choice from Sotelo. The score was 11-7 after six innings but the momentum was with the Huskies.
In the seventh inning, after an Espinoza single, Chaidez continued his hot weekend with a homer to center field, his second of the year which brought the Huskies to within 11-9. The Huskies continued in the eighth, where Clark walked, Conklin doubled and they both scored on a double from Espinoza. The game was tied at 11-11. First part of the comeback done. Now for the second part.
Tied at 11 with two outs in the ninth, Clark and Sotelo walked. Conklin doubled to right center and Clark scored the go ahead run. The bullpen trio of Solis, Fernando Soto and Angel Serrano combined in the last five innings to hold the Wolverines to one run, with Serrano earning the win with two innings of work.
Chaidez was the star of the weekend, with his 7 innings and 8 Ks on the mound. He added 4 hits, 3 walks and 4 RBIs at the bat. Clark scored five runs over the two games. Aguirre had four hits and 3 RBIs. Segura had 3 hits and scored twice. Conklin had 3 hits, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Solis had four innings out of the bullpen, striking out four.
Up next the Huskies head to Moorpark for a Thursday game.