Infielder Ty Thomas (19), slides into home plate against the Roadrunners.
On May 2, SAC Baseball won their first game 5-0 against College of the Desert Roadrunners in a two-game series in the 3C2A SoCAL Regional Baseball Playoffs.
SAC entered the series with a 35-5 record compared to the Roadrunners 23-16 record.
Pitchers on the mound for SAC were sophomore right-handed pitcher Izeah Muniz (44), sophomore right-handed pitcher Joey Peralta (21), sophomore left-handed pitcher Matt Viveros (14) and sophomore right-handed pitcher Sam Silversmith (16) as closer. From beginning to end, the four kept the Roadrunners from putting points on the scoreboard.
Muniz (44) pitched for the first six innings, demonstrating his strength and endurance as a starting pitcher. When asked what his thoughts on the mound were, Muniz replied to just throw strikes without overcomplicating the game. Muniz (44) delivered a steady flow of strikes and with help from both the infield and outfield that kept the game scoreless.
However, grateful for winning, head coach John Knott said he wants to see more discipline in his players, ensuring they can have more control of the field for later games in the series.
“We have to play the way that got us success that helped us get to this point, which is pitching, defense and timely hitting,” Knott said. “I thought [Muniz] was a little bit nervous early, but he did a great job in finding his rhythm and he gave us six strong and I thought our bullpen was lights out [with] Peralta, Viveros, Silversmith [all controlling] the count.”
Third and first baseman freshman Landon White (8) would bring in SAC’s first score of the game at the bottom of the first inning after a single by infielder freshman Tyler Stull (27). The bottom of the second inning saw sophomore shortstop Noah Rodriguez (12) score off a fly ball hit by White (8) to center field.
SAC’s last three scores would all be in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Bryan Bradshaw (24) scored on a walk from Stull (27), followed by sophomore infielder Ty Thomas (19) and White (8) off a single from freshman outfielder Miguel Perez (3).
SAC would go on to advance to the next round of the series after defeating the Roadrunners 8-2 in their second game. After defeating both the Chaffey Tigers and the Cuesta Cougars in the second round, SAC will be playing in the finals against the Glendale Vaqueros May 16.
