No. 10 Eagles Show No Mercy in 10-0 Victory

Chris Malec and Matt Wilkerson hit back-to-back home runs twice Saturday to help 10th-ranked Santa Margarita defeat Mission Viejo, 10-0, in the first round of the Pride of the Coast tournament at Newport Harbor High.

Five Eagle pitchers combined on a no-hitter in a game cut to five innings by the mercy rule.

The Eagles (9-5) took the lead early, scoring a run in the first inning. Santa Margarita’s Chris Rix singled to start the game and advanced to third on an error. Ryan Campeau and Malec walked to load the bases, and Rix came home on Nate Beyer’s wild pitch.

The Eagles scored four more runs in the third inning, sparked by solo home runs from Malec and Wilkerson.

In the fourth inning, Jake Brennan replaced Beyer for the Diablos (9-6) and was greeted with a single by Malec, who went three for three. Malec stole second and advanced to third on Wilkerson’s infield single.

Malec scored on an error by catcher Justin Blum, who overthrew second in an attempt to catch Wilkerson stealing.

Mike Beattie tripled and Matt Rocheleau singled to drive in two more runs for Santa Margarita, which took an 8-0 lead.

The Eagles scored their final two runs in the fifth on home runs by Malec, his fifth of the season, and Wilkerson, who hit his ninth.