The East Union High Lancers used solid pitching and defense to get past host Weston Ranch on Thursday, 3-1.

That was good enough for coach Dan Triglia.

“We really needed to bounce back after that game,” he said, referencing the 9-4 loss to the Cougars on Tuesday.

East Union (8-5, 14-8 overall) remains tied with crosstown rival Manteca for second place in the Valley Oak League. The two will face off next week with two Sac-Joaquin Section playoff spots on the line.

Weston Ranch (5-6, 14-9) also played better despite the loss. The Cougars will need to win out — they have to make up the rest of their suspended game with Central Catholic and face fourth-place Sierra next week — to have a chance to make the postseason.

“For the exception of the third inning, we were consistent,” said Cougars coach Dave Hagar.

That’s when East Union tacked on all three runs.

Daniel Marquez got the rally started with a one-out walk, with Gyse Hulsebosch, Brayden Hardcastle, Andrew Morones, and Mason James stringing together consecutive hits.

Marquez scored on a throwing error while Hulsebosch and Hardcastle scored on RBI singles by Morones and James, respectively.

Defensively, the Lancers displayed some stellar play with the glove. First baseman Scott Morenzone made a diving stop along the line, flipping the ball to pitcher Morones covering the bag for the third-out putout.

“That was a great play,” said Morones, who also pitched his way out of a bases-loaded situation earlier in the game.

He had hoped for a complete-game shutout. But pinch hitter Cuyler Reynolds drew a lead-off walk in the seventh, with James Peavey hitting a single and, one batter later, Manuel Rubio delivering the RBI single.

Morones, who indicated that the win was more important, got the final out, snagging the infield popup.

James and Hardcastle had two hits each for East Union.

Rubio had two hits for the Cougars.

Sierra 10, Lathrop 0 (5)

Jesse Babauta struck out four in a mercy-shortened two-hitter and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out double that scored Diego Duarte. 

Babauta finished 2 for 3 from the plate. Zach White and Duarte each drove in a pair of runs. The Timberwolves (7-5, 12-9) trail cross-town rivals Manteca and East Union by a game in the race for two postseason berths.

Ripon Christian 6,

Waterford 5 (8)

WATERFORD — The Knights (8-4 Southern League, 12-6 overall) secured their spot in the SJS Division VI playoffs.

Bowen Terra powered the attack, going 3 for 5 with a double and four RBIs. Ian Vrieling went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Willem Hoekstra struck out eight and gave up five runs (one earned) over 5 1/3 innings. Kizer Vanderveer shut out the Wildcats (6-6, 7-17) in 2 2/3 innings in relief for the win.

Freshman

Sierra 3, Kimball 2

Jesse Ortiz-Martinez broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday, driving in William Rocha with a single. Louis Aquila followed with a double, and Matt Dunham capped the rally with a two-RBI hit.

Kenny Kuwada pitched five scoreless innings for the win. Aquila picked up the save, picking off a runner at third with the bases loaded for the final out of the game. Sierra improved to 8-4 in the VOL, 15-5 overall.