Written by RYAN SPARKS
In one of his most dominant outings of the season, Gallardo gave up just two hits while striking out nine in six innings. At one point he retired 10 Mustangs in a row and never let a West Valley player reach third base.
"Early in the game I had trouble finding my off-speed pitch," said Gallardo about his performance. "Once I found that things started rolling better and I got back to normal. It helps when I keep getting the same rhythm going."
The game was scoreless through the first three innings as Gallardo and Mustang pitcher Brennan McDonough both kept runners off base and runs off the scoreboard. The closest either team came to scoring was in the third inning when Hemet had runners on first and third with two outs. McDonough was able to get Hemet clean-up hitter Cody White to ground out to the shortstop to end the threat.
In the fourth inning Hemet broke the scoreless tie when center fielder Anthony Necochea, who had two runs and three RBI's in the game, scored on Chris Wolford's RBI double, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
In the following inning, Hemet would take what was a close game and blow it wide open. Five of the first six Hemet hitters scored, three of them on a Necochea bases loaded triple down the right field line, to stretch the Bulldog's lead to 6-0. In the inning Hemet had five hits, a sacrifice bunt, and squeeze play as they sent eight men to the plate and chased McDonough from the game.
"When you get into close games on the road and you're hitting the ball right at people, you have to start putting pressure on the other team and manufacture your own runs," said Hemet head coach Mike Arnold after the game. "We got some consecutive hits and got on a good role."
Hemet's offense continued to roll in the seventh inning when, leading 7-0, they scored four more runs, capped by third baseman Nathan Bagby's two run single to complete the scoring at 11-0.
With the victory, Hemet keeps pace in the hotly contested Mountain Pass League. Entering the April 12 game they were in a tie for second place with Beaumont, a game-and-a-half behind league leading Tahquitz. They played Perris Citrus Hill (score unavailable at press time).
For the West Valley Mustangs (3-14, 0-7) the loss extends their losing streak to 12 games. They looked to end that streak against Tahquitz on Tuesday.