ROUNDUP : Lugo’s Pitching, Wyckoff’s Quickness Put Capistrano Valley Into Playoffs

Strong pitching by senior Dave Lugo and the quickness of pinch-runner Ethan Wyckoff paced Capistrano Valley past Irvine, 5-4, in a South Coast League playoff game Friday at Saddleback College.

Lugo struck out two and walked two in six innings for Capistrano Valley (15-10-1), which will advance to the Southern Section playoffs after finishing in a tie for third with the Vaqueros (15-11-1). The loss ended Irvine’s season.

After capitalizing on three walks and two Irvine errors in the sixth inning to score two runs and break a 1-1 tie, the Cougars took a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning on Scott Patton’s two-run home run to left.

But Patton never would have had the chance to make his game-winning hit were it not for the baserunning of Wyckoff, who was running for Lugo after his one-out single to left field.

Catcher Brand Caso hit a bouncer to first baseman Ryan Jones, who stepped on first and attempted to double up Wyckoff at second, but Wyckoff slid under the throw in a close play, allowing Patton the opportunity to make his game-winning hit.

Irvine scored two runs and had the potential tying run at third base in the bottom of the seventh. After Aron Garcia’s two-out single to center scored Loc Tran from third, two wild pitches from Cade Gasper, who came in to relieve Lugo, allowed Jones to score and Garcia to advance to third. Scott Seal grounded out to Tim Lyons at shortstop to end the game.