The Sierra College baseball team pounded out 23 runs in two games and appear to be primed and ready for the upcoming postseason.
The Wolverines overwhelmed the Falcons in taking the first two games of a three-game series thanks to strong pitching and a powerful offensive attack. Freshman Charles Middleton hit for the cycle in game one with a single, double, triple and home run and had six runs batted in to lead the Wolverines to a 13-3 win on April 17. Middleton took care of the two more difficult hits of the cycle early, homering in the third inning and tripling in the fourth. He added a single in what was a seven-run fourth for Sierra and then completed the rare feat with a double in the seventh. Radd Thomas shut down Folsom Lake's offense, pitching seven innings and allowing no runs and just four hits. Dylan Smethurst and Isaiah Garcia both had two RBI and Matt Lopez went 4 for 5. As a team Sierra had 16 hits.
The Wolverines (26-9, 15-5) won game two in Rocklin 10-1 on April 19. Sierra received another strong outing from Tyler Gums who remained perfect on the season while notching his 9th win. The Long Beach-bound sophomore pitched seven strong innings, allowing just four hits, one run and striking out seven. A host of Wolverines provided plenty of offense for Gums. Logan Wurm (3x5, home run, 4 RBI) and Smethurst (2X5 grand slam, 5 RBI) provided most of the run support.
With the two wins, Sierra kept pace with Delta on top of the Big 8 Conference standings with four games remaining in the regular season. Sierra wraps up the series with Folsom Lake on Saturday, April 21 (1pm). Then takes on Santa Rosa in a home-away-home series beginning on Tuesday, April 24.
Delta finishes up with two against American River and three against Diablo Valley.
Story by Scott Johnston, photo by Dave Lawicka