Dons Defeat Jaguars in Second Game of Series

Dons center fielder Ryan Aguilar went 3-5 with three hits and an RBI in a 6-4 victory against the Southwestern College Jaguars. / Alex Olivares / el Don

By Jorge Campos

Dons sophomore outfielder Ryan Aguilar helps Santa Ana College avoid elimination with a three hit performance in a 6-4 victory against the Southwestern College Jaguars Saturday at Don Sneddon Field.

[quote] “This is not the last time I put this jersey on, I promise that,” Aguilar said.[/quote]

Aguilar went 3-5 with three hits, and an RBI. His lone run came from second base on a wild pitch over the catcher’s head in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game up at three apiece.

“As soon I got the steal sign from my coach, I ran towards third when the pitcher started his motion, I ignored my coach at third and ran home when I saw the ball hit the backstop,” Aguilar said.

The Dons would not trail after that. Two batters later third baseman Troy Baird singled to right-field to drive in outfielder Nestor Linares for a 4-3 lead.

“We have never once relied on one guy, thats the amazing thing about this team. There are freshman that step up [Baird], when we need them to,” SAC Co-Head Coach Bryan Harris said.

After loading the bases in the first two innings with no runs to show for it, Southwestern jumped out to a 3-0 lead when outfielder Roberto Lucero crushed Dons starter Kevin Clementi’s offering down into right center-field, driving in three runs. After Clementi was pulled, the Jaguars would only score one more run in the game.

“You can’t change the decisions at the plate on me, pitches that were called balls in the beginning of the game were being called strikes toward the end of the game. Why!?” Southwestern Co-Head Coach Jay Bartow said.

Jaguars starter Kevin Ginkel laboured through the game throwing 102 pitches in five and two-thirds innings. He gave up five earned runs on nine hits and one walk, while striking out four.

“They [SAC] made our guy work. Usually he doesn’t have to throw that many pitches to batters. He usually gets them out with three or four pitches, they made him throw five or six,” Southwestern Co-Head Coach Jay Martel said.

Ginkel led the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference with a 2.32 ERA, innings pitched with 83 and one-third, and ranked second in wins with eight.