Eighth-seeded Sierra rallied for six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to upend visiting Liberty Ranch 7-5 on Tuesday in the first round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III playoffs.

Santi Duarte hit an RBI single, and Rapisura followed with a two-run hit to put Sierra up for good in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Timberwolves (12-15) travels to top-seeded Marysville (23-5) on Thursday. The Pioneer Valley League co-champion had a first-round bye.

The Hawks (13-12) from Galt scored four runs in the top of the fifth for a 5-1 lead. Jack Cunial replaced Duarte on the mound in the fifth and got out of the jam, leaving two runners on base.

Duarte tallied five strikeouts and allowed one earned run on four hits over 5 2/3 innings. Cunial got the win and also helped spark the offense, finishing 2 for 4 with two runs.

“Santi did a great job on the mound today,” Sierra coach Travis Thomson said. “If we handle a couple balls differently in the fifth inning, I don’t think they have that big inning. But Santi did a great job battling for his team today and put us in a great position to win.

“Jack does a great job competing on the mound,” Thomson added. “It’s not a stat that shows up, but Jack makes so many big pitches on the mound. He is a gamer.”

Mitch Van Zwaluwenburg went 2 for 2 with two walks, scoring twice. Rapisura drove in three runs. Sophomore call-up Troy Morrow drove in Sierra’s two runs in the fifth with a double on his first varsity at-bat.

East Union 12, Livingston 2 (5)

Seventh-seeded East Union (11-11) took care of the Trans-Valley League tri-champion behind Dylan Lee’s mercy-shortened three-hitter.

No. 10 Livingston (13-13) led 2-1 but succumbed to the Lancers’ seven-run barrage in the bottom of the third inning

Jacob Toste blasted a home run, finishing 2 for 2 with two runs, two RBIs and two steals. Lee went 2 for 3 with a double, a triple, two runs and two RBIs. Noah Calmes helped break it open with a bases-loaded double. Mateo Guevara’s pinch-hit RBI single ended the game in the bottom of the fifth.

The Lancers next head to No. 2 Calaveras (24-2), the Mother Lode League champion.