Taft breaks open game early, beats Reedley 8-3 behind Orozco's eight scoreless innings

Taft College put the game away with a five-run third inning and rode a dominant start from Julian Orozco to an 8-3 road win over Reedley on Saturday at Tiger Field in Reedley.

The Cougars took control early and never gave it back. After Carson Rodart drove in Edel Guemarez with a double in the second inning for a 1-0 lead, Taft broke the game open in the third. Eian Peralta delivered a two-run double to extend the advantage, a wild pitch brought home another run, and J'Den Briones followed with a two-run single as Taft surged ahead 6-0.

Taft added two more runs in the fourth to build an 8-0 cushion. Peralta lifted a sacrifice fly that brought home an unearned run, and Guemarez followed with an RBI single. Guemarez finished 3 for 3, scored twice, drove in one run, walked twice and stole a base, helping lead an 11-hit afternoon for the Cougars. Peralta accounted for three RBIs, while Briones added two and Rodart chipped in an RBI double.

Orozco handled the rest. The Taft starter worked eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out five on 95 pitches. Reedley did not break through until the ninth, when Andrew Mora hit a sacrifice fly, Ayden Oliveras singled and an error allowed another run to score, and Josh Haro added an RBI fielder's choice.

Even with Reedley's late push, the outcome was largely settled by Taft's work in the middle innings and Orozco's steady outing on the mound. Taft finished with eight runs, 11 hits and five walks, while Reedley managed three runs on eight hits. The game drew 122 spectators, with Hank Abdelfallah serving as the home-plate umpire and Robert Drake working first base.