January 27, 2009 - Results
Pinder Dominant in Dons Opening Day Victory

SANTA ANA, CA - The Santa Ana College (SAC) baseball team opened its season with a 5-3 victory over visiting Los Angeles Pierce College Tuesday afternoon. Branden Pinder retired eight straight batters to open the game.

The Dons (1-0) scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning when Marcus Piazzisi reached on a fielder's choice allowing Matt Hart to score from third. Piazzisi put SAC up 2-0 later in the inning when he scored on a Brian Boles' single.

Chris Miller led the bottom of the fourth with a double off the leftfield fence. After two straight pop-outs, Hart hit a single through the right side advancing Miller to third. Miller scored in the next at-bat when Julian Duran singled to right field, putting the Dons up 3-0 through three innings.

Defensively, Branden Pinder retired the first eight batters he faced with the ninth batter, Sean Spear, reaching on a bunt-single. Spear was thrown out attempting to steal second base two pitches later by Dons catcher James Davis.

Pierce (0-1) cut into SAC's lead in the top of the fourth inning when Jason Barmasse reached base on a fielding error. Barmasse scored three batters later when Carlos Gonzales singled to leftfield to make the score 3-1 Dons.

The Dons added two runs to their lead in the fifth inning despite the first two batters getting out on a double play. Duran began the rally with a two-out single to third followed by a Kyle Ammons' single to rightfield. Duran scored on the play after stealing second during Ammons' at-bat.

Piazzisi then reached first and advanced to second on a throwing error, allowing Ammons to score and put the Dons up 5-1.

Pierce added two runs in the ninth on a double by pinch-hitter Josh Reece scoring James Wharton and Gonzalez. Michael Steele answered the two-out double with back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.

Pinder picked up the win after allowing only three hits with five strikeouts. He allowed one unearned run in six innings pitched. Duran led the Dons offensively going 2-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored followed by Ammons who finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored.

Next: Santa Ana at Palomar, Thursday, January 29 at 2:00 p.m.