By Jerry Flores
Husky baseball won its second game of a three-game series against Mount San Antonio College at home on Thursday 7-4.
East Los Angeles College will faceoff Saddleback College in a three-game series on Friday and Saturday away in the California Community College Athletics Association Southern California Regional post season.
The Huskies ended their season 13-9 in the South Coast Conference North-play and 23-17 overall.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the score tied 3-3, Huskies took the lead after sophomore designated hitter Julian Zermeno hit the ball to center field and sophomore pitcher Loggan Gibbons scored for ELAC.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Huskies offense continued after sophomore outfielder Elias Maldonado smashed the ball to center field and Jarrard scored to extend the lead for ELAC.
Jarrard finished the game scoring two runs and stole five bases. Jarrard has 16 runs, nine stolen bases, and 26 hits in the season.
“Sticking to the plan the coaches gave us and good pitches helped me accomplish this,” Jarrard said.
In the bottom of the sixth inning freshman infielder Bryan Duenas hit the ball to center field and freshman infielder Grant Victor reached home plate, that gave the Huskies a 6-3 lead.
Later in the sixth inning, Mt. SAC. freshman pitcher Dylan Needham walked three ELAC players to load the bases. Needham walked a fourth player and forced the seventh run for ELAC.
“Staying focused, getting guys on bases and scoring was the key for getting this win,” ELAC head coach James Hines said.
In the top of the eighth inning Mt. SAC. tried to tie the game, but they only scored one run by sophomore outfielder Nic Sandoval.
This was the first game in the season were Hines only used one pitcher (freshman Paul Kosanovich) for the entire game.
“Even though I made that mistake early in the game, I was able to do good pitchings pretty much all the game,” Kosanovich said.
“Paul has been very consistent throughout the season. He did an outstanding job. Put pitches were they needed to be. That was big for us in the game,” Hines said.
Getting this win secured second place for ELAC in the playoffs.
In the bottom of the first inning ELAC took the lead, with a player on first and third base, Jarrard smashed the ball to center field and allowed sophomore infielder Matthew Sosa and Victor to score for the Huskies.
Victor finished the game with two runs and three bases stolen.
“The hitters did a great job helping me score. I was able to get on because of walks.They did a good job putting the ball in play,” Victor said. Then, after an error from Mt. SAC. freshmen catcher Justin Mchale, who did not grab the ball, allowed Jarrard to reach home plate and gave ELAC the 3-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, with a player on first and second base, Mt. SAC. sophomore second baseman Anthony Walters hit a home run toward left field and tied the game 3-3.