Delta Defeats Oxnard, 5-4, To Begin State Tournament
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oxnard
|
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
|
San Joaquin Delta
|
0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 5 | 7 | 2 |
By John Van Gaston, Sports Information
Game 1 – May 24, 2014 – John Euless Ballpark - 12:00 p.m.
1N San Joaquin Delta Mustangs (34-9) def. #2S Oxnard Condors (33-11), 5-4
FRESNO – It's been almost three full years since Oxnard College pitcher Luke Eubank lost a game in the state of California. On Saturday in the opening game of the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships at John Euless Ballpark, San Joaquin Delta was able to figure out Eubank (12-1), as they scored five times (four earned) in seven innings to post a 5-4 win. The victory advances the Mustangs (34-9) into the championship semifinals, while the Condors (33-11) must now come through the consolation bracket if they are to win their first state title.
Delta opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when CJ Owens reached base when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the stanza. With one out, Connor Torres singled to center field to put runners at first and second. Zach Perugi hit into what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but Oxnard second baseman Jordan Farris threw the ball wild, allowing the lead runner to score. Pergui, who advanced to third in an infield single, scored on a passed ball for a 2-0 lead.
Oxnard took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Farris tripled home Daniel Barnett, who reached on a one-out walk. Bronson Shim put the Condors up with a sacrifice fly.
Eubank, who entered the game with a 0.69 ERA and was named the state's Pitcher of the Year, allowed a one-out double to Phil Clark, with Wyatt Castro knotting the game at 4-4 with a two-out double. Owens drove in the eventual game-winning run with a double to left-center.
Delta's Sam Held (7-2), who came on in relief of starting pitcher Matt Valencia, tossed the final five innings and allowed just two singles while striking out eight batters. In his five innings, Held retired 14 of the 19 batters he faced, including the final five to send the Mustangs to the championship semifinals.