DIVISION III BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Zuniga Pitches Saddleback Past Trabuco Hills, 6-3

Tony Zuniga, who overcame a shaky first inning, gave up two hits over the final six innings of Saddleback’s 6-3 victory over Trabuco Hills in the opening round of the Division III baseball playoffs Friday at Trabuco Hills.

The Mustangs, Pacific Coast League champions, scored three unearned runs in the first inning before Zuniga (8-3) settled down. He retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced.

The Roadrunners collected 12 hits, including two doubles and a single by Eddie Mejia.

Saddleback (15-11) took a 1-0 lead in the first on a walk to Tony Torres, a stolen base and singles by Zuniga and Juan Chavez.

Trabuco Hills (19-7) countered with three runs in the first. Nick Punto was safe on an error, stole second. Jake Anderson was hit by a pitch. Brian Costello’s single and Matt Rechner’s double drove in the three runs.

Saddleback scored an unearned run in the second and threatened to take the lead in the third when Rechner’s diving catch with two outs and the bases loaded ended the threat.

The Roadrunners took the lead for good in the fourth on Zuniga’s sacrifice fly and Mejia’s run-scoring double.

Saddleback added two in the seventh on Mike Grasse’s bases-loaded single and Jerry Ortiz’s squeeze.