Grossmont Rallies to Beat Saddleback, 7-5

Grossmont College rallied for two runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to defeat host Saddleback, 7-5, Friday in the second round of the Saddleback baseball tournament.

Sean Therien had an RBI double, Justin Pysar an RBI single and Brent Ferguson a sacrifice fly as Saddleback (11-6-1) took a 3-2 lead in the third. Ralph Grejada hit a solo home run in the fourth to put Saddleback ahead, 4-3.

Brian Sos and Mike Vallarelli had RBI singles as Grossmont took the lead, 5-4, in the fifth. Mike Ippolito had a two-run double in the seventh for Grossmont (21-6).

Saddleback plays Golden West today at 9, and the winner plays Grossmont at noon, but would need to win twice to take the double-elimination tournament title.

In another Saddleback tournament game:

Golden West 10, Rio Hondo 10--Golden West advances on total bases, 72-67, after the game was called because of the tournament’s three-hour time limit. Golden West (13-7) tied it in the top of the ninth on a three-run homer by Craig Paquette, his second of the game and seventh of the season. Rio Hondo (11-8) was eliminated from the tournament.