Dons extend win-streak to seven

BASEBALL: Dons vs. Los Angeles Harbor.
GAME DATE: February 14, 2013.

After hurting his right shoulder, freshman centerfielder Ryan Aguilar found the perfect cure. He knocked in three runs and scored another in the Dons 5-1 win against visiting L.A. Harbor Thursday, stretching the Dons’ winning streak to seven.

“That RBI really made my shoulder feel a lot better,” Aguilar said.

In the bottom of the fourth, Aguilar walked to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second. With the count full, he laced an outside fastball for a single into left field, scoring shortstop Josh Vargas for his first RBI of the game.

It was the same inning where he was injured.

Aguilar made a diving catch to record the final out of the top of the inning, but came up wincing while clutching his shoulder.

“When I dove all my body went down and the arm went back up,” Aguilar said. “It popped my shoulder out of its place.”

L.A. Harbor Head Coach Art Lopez praised the Dons for scoring two, two-out runs.

“It came down to who took the best at bats with two outs and runners in scoring position,” Lopez said. “They did a better job then us.”

Despite entering the season with uncertainties in the starting pitching rotation opponents are only batting .217 against the Santa Ana College staff.

Sophomore converted starter Matt Blanchard (3-0) threw six innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks.

“I only threw one off speed pitch for a strike,” Said Blanchard, who was last season’s closer. “Luckily my fastball was getting by them.”

L.A. Harbor scored its only run in the top half of the sixth on a two-out triple by first baseman Jordan Espino.

“I was looking fastball, got one in the right spot and put a good swing on it,” Espino said.

In the bottom half of the sixth, the Dons scored three runs on three hits, expanding the lead to four runs. The first two batters reached base on a hit and a walk.

Then L.A. Harbor made a pitching change.

Aguilar then walked to the plate with runners at first and third. On the first pitch from reliever Larry Brown, Aguilar laced a double into left-center field, scoring right fielder Blake Walker from first.

“I saw the ball clear and drove it into the gap,” Aguilar said. “Just like in practice.”

Sophomore righty Travis Hawley picked up his first save of the season, pitching the final three frames for the Dons.

Righty Freddy Jung took the loss for the Seahawks (0-5-1). He threw five innings, surrendered four runs, three earned, on four hits and five walks.

“I had trouble focusing on the catcher’s glove at times,” Jung said.

The Dons (7-0) play at 2 p.m. Friday at L.A. Harbor.