LATHROP – The game it would have taken for the Lathrop Spartans to upset the Valley Oak League leading Oakdale Mustangs never showed. Lathrop battled through the game’s first three innings before crumbling, dropping the home-home series opener 11-0 Tuesday.

Lathrop needed to win out to have a chance at advancing the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs for the first time. Manteca ends up clinching the third and final berth, with the others going to Oakdale and Sonora.

Oakdale came out clicking, piecing together three hits, a hits batsman and a Lathrop error for a quick 2-0 lead. The Mustangs then handed over responsibility to left hander Eddie Machado and he did not disappoint, giving the Mustangs a complete-game shutout in five innings of work with 11 strikeouts.

Mikey Pereznegron led off the game with a single, advanced to third with one out on a wild pitch and an error on a pickoff play by Machado. Pereznegron would advance no further as the Spartans next three batters would all strike out.

Lathrop (6-7, 12-10 overall) would not get another runner in scoring position.

“He was pretty much pounding us,” Pereznegron said of Machado. “He was throwing straight fastballs and then one he got ahead you know he was coming with the deuce.

“It was pretty much we had to adjust and we didn’t make very good adjustments today.”

Machado cruised after working his way out of the semi-jam in the first inning. The junior retired eight-consecutive hitters by strikeout and did not give up his second hit until a Marcus Mertilien base hit in the fourth.

“Eddie has gotten a few innings and he is a guy that can throw,” Oakdale head coach Hondo Arpoika said. “He went out there and did what he expects to do and what we expect of him.

“Offensively, it’s just one at a time. Just take what’s given to you and work behind runners. Stay with the approach.”

Oakdale would add three in the fourth on a Craig Handzlik double and broke the game open with a seven-run fifth inning sparked by a three RBI triple from Justin Martin.