Eagle Baseball Getting Set for Conference Play

The MSJC baseball team is off to a rough start but have shown signs of competing with some of the best teams in Southern California.

The Eagles are currently on a four-game losing streak after falling to Long Beach, El Camino twice, and Mt. SAC. MSJC had a chance in three of the four games but fell short.

The Eagles started a busy week last week with a tough 5-2 loss at home against Long Beach City. MSJC fell behind 2-0 in the top of the second inning but scored one run each in the bottom of the third and sixth to even up the game. In the bottom of the third Matt Rezkalah picked up an RBI when he walked with the bases loaded and then in the sixth the Eagles tied the game on an RBI ground out by Kaden Spencer. Unfortunately, the Vikings scored three runs over the final two innings to win the game. Matt Wallin had a solid start on the mound as he went five innings and allowed two runs, just one was earned.

MSJC also played at home last Thursday where they fell behind early and couldn't recover losing to El Camino 16-8. Derek Hurtado, Steven Kirtides, and Louie Arias all had three hits each in the loss. Hurtado hit a two-run homerun in the third while Kirtides and Arias both had a double. Juni Rodriguez and Rezkalah both had two RBIs.

Saturday the Eagles played El Camino again this time in Torrance, and in a dramatic finish lost to the Falcons 8-7 in ten innings. MSJC built leads of 2-0 and 4-1 before El Camino rallied to take the lead 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh when they scored four runs. Hurtado earned an RBI when he was hit by a pitch in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded to even the score and after a scoreless ninth the game went into extra innings. The Eagles jumped back ahead in the top of the tenth when Kirtides hit a two-run double to right field, but the bullpen could not hold the lead as the Falcons scored three in the bottom half of the inning to win 8-7. MSJC received another solid starting pitching outing as Chad Horton went six innings only allowing one run. Hurtado hit his second homerun of the season in the loss.

The Eagles started this week with another back-and-forth game on Tuesday at Mt. SAC losing to the Mounties 10-8. Both teams had their offenses working from the start of the game and by the end of four innings the Eagles trailed 8-4. MSJC closed the gap to one run at 8-7 in the seventh when Ryan Rangel doubled home a run and then Justin Granado hit a two-run single, but the Eagles couldn't quite make it all the way back. Kirtides and Rangle finished the game with two RBIs each while Granado had three.

The Eagles are now 1-8 on the season and will be back in action on Saturday when they host Mt. SAC. The game on Saturday is set to begin at noon.