COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL / SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PLAYOFFS : Rancho Santiago Finishes Strong

Rancho Santiago’s Kirk Irvine couldn’t have started much worse or finished any better Friday.

Irvine gave up a single, a home run and a walk to the first three batters he faced but recovered to pitch a complete game as Rancho Santiago beat Saddleback, 14-3, in the second round of the Southern California baseball playoffs.

Irvine (11-3) gave up one more run and wound up pitching a seven-hitter with five strikeouts.

The home run, by Ryan Johnson, was the first Irvine allowed this season after 118 innings.

Irvine, a sophomore right-hander, closed out in impression fashion, retiring the last 10.

“The first is usually a tough inning for me,” Irvine said. “I really don’t know why. It really didn’t bug me [to give up the home run]. I just sort of relaxed after that because everyone has been wondering when it would happen. In a way, it kind of cleared my mind.”

It was the 10th consecutive victory for Rancho Santiago (37-9), the top-ranked team in the Southern California.

The loss stopped a seven-game winning streak for Saddleback (24-18).

Rancho Santiago plays host to Los Angeles Pierce at 11 today. The winner moves to the title game Sunday at Rancho Santiago.

Saddleback plays Riverside at Fullerton today at 10, with the loser being eliminated.

Rancho Santiago didn’t waste much time catching up after being down, 2-0.

The Dons scored twice in the second to move in front, 3-2, then took control with six runs in the third.

Ryan Fullerton hit a three-run homer, his ninth this season, and David Mallas added a run-scoring single. Two more runs scored on an error.

Mallas added a two-run single to cap a four-run sixth, which put the Dons ahead, 13-4.

Fullerton and Mallas each drove in three runs. Mallas, who was hit twice, scored three runs.

Fullerton and Chad Henderson each had three hits, and Kyle Evans and Jamie Estrada each had two hits. Toby Sanchez had a hit, walked twice and scored three runs.

Sanchez also threw out a runner at the plate from right field to complete a double play.

Aaron Sepulveda had two hits and drove in a run for Saddleback. Pat Antrim had a hit and stole his 35th base of the season, one short of the Saddleback record.