Sophomore first baseman Joey Epperson went 2-2 with two RBIs on Friday night and SBCC took advantage of six Saddleback errors to beat the Gauchos 6-5 at Doug Fritz Field in Mission Viejo.
Epperson put the Vaqueros (2-2) up 6-3 with a two-out, two-run single in the seventh that scored Taylor McKnight and Eli Michaels. Epperson reached base five straight times (2 hits, 2 walks, HBP), raising his batting average to .429.
Michaels, the leadoff hitter, went 2-4 with three runs and extended his hitting streak to four games. Only two of the Vaqueros’ runs were earned.
Brendon Shoemake (2-0) got the win, allowing three runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked six. Lucas Benenati pitched the seventh and eighth, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits.
Shane Turner earned his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out the last two batters.
SBCC jumped ahead 4-0 after three innings. With a 3-0 lead, Epperson singled to lead off the third, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on a groundout by Steven Reveles.
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, starting at noon.
