JetHawks Go Down and Out of Race, 8-3

In the middle of their game against the Lake Elsinore Storm, the JetHawks’ objective changed.

A hit, any hit, was the new goal after falling into a four-run hole in the fifth inning.

Carlos Villalobos and Shawn Buhner hit singles with two out in the ninth against Matt Perisho, breaking up a potential no-hitter as the JetHawks lost, 8-3, Saturday night at the Diamond.

The defeat left the JetHawks (36-34) waiting for the end of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes victory over the San Bernardino Stampede to know that they were officially eliminated from the first-half title race in the California League’s Southern Division.

“We battled back from losing 17 out of 20 to make it a close race,” Manager Dave Brundage said. “Hopefully, we can roll this over into the second half. We can learn a lot and this will make us a better club next time.”

Perisho, who pitched eight innings after Brad Pennington threw one on a rehabilitation assignment, learned something, too.

“I learned a hard lesson about trying to overthrow,” Perisho said.

“I am disappointed because you don’t get too many games like this where you get this close. I’ll know what to do the next time.”

Perisho (5-4), who had a 4.81 earned-run average and an opponents’ batting average of .305, struck out four and walked two.

“I think we hit a couple balls well and they were right at people,” JetHawk left fielder Shane Monahan said. “But you’ve got totip your cap to him. Until that last inning, he was dealing.”

Perisho retired the first two hitters in the ninth, bringing the crowd of 6,711 to its feet. He walked Jose Cruz Jr. and Scot Sealy, and Jason Cook reached base on an error, scoring the JetHawks first run.

Villalobos fouled off several two-strike pitches before rolling a single into right field, driving in a run. Buhner’s single drove in the third run before Dusty Wathan ended the game with a fly ball.

Brett Hinchliffe (5-7) of the JetHawks pitched well for four innings, allowing a run in the first. Over the next three innings, he retired nine in a row on 27 pitches.

In the fifth, Bret Hemphill reached base on an error by first baseman Buhner. After an out, Kevin Young singled and Randy Betten hit a 400-foot triple.

Young and Hemphill scored, and when a wild relay got past Hinchliffe and into the dugout, Betten scored to make it 4-0.

Lake Elsinore 8, JetHawks 3

JetHawks: 000 000 003 -- 3 2 3

Lake Elisnore: 100 030 13x -- 8 11 1

Hinchliffe, Daniels (7) and Sealy; Pennington, Perisho (2) and Hemphill.

W--Perisho (5-4).L--Hinchliffe (5-7).

2B: LE--Betten, Hemphill. 3B: LE--Betten. HR:LE--Young (2).

Records: JetHawks 36-33; Lake Elsinore 34-35.