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Rodriguez clutch for Lancers
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LINDEN — Mark Rodriguez came through in clutch situations during East Union’s 5-3 extra-innings victory over previously-undefeated Linden on Monday.
Linden (8-1) missed a chance to win it in the bottom of the eighth inning when it had runners in scoring position with the top of its batting order up and no outs. Rodriguez struck out the next two batters and induced a groundball to escape the threat.
Then in the top of the ninth, Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run — plated by Brayden Hardcastle, who swatted a leadoff double — and was followed by Scott Morenzone’s RBI hit.
Rodriguez secured the win for East Union (6-3) after allowing a leadoff hit in the bottom half, getting three groundball outs.
Fernando Segura started on the bump, striking out five and giving up four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Linden plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning to force extra frames.
Hardcastle finished 2 for 5 and crushed a two-run homer to left to give the Lancers a 3-1 lead. Morenzone belted a double in the second inning for the first run of the game. East Union totaled 15 hits but left 10 runners on base.
East Union has another tough nonleague test Wednesday when it hosts Escalon (8-1).

Weston Ranch 3,
Tokay 2 (6)
LODI — Rylan Tinlsey pitched through jams in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings when Tokay (4-2) had runners in scoring position. He finished with two strikeouts and no walks. The game was called after the sixth inning due to rain.
“Rylan found a way to battle through the elements and kept competing,” Weston Ranch coach David Hager said.
All of the runs were scored in the first three innings. The Cougars (8-3) never trailed after Carlos Drain drove in the first run in the top of the first. Weston Ranch led 3-0 after two innings. Larry Martinez (2 for 2) contributed an RBI hit, and James Peavy plated the team’s final run on an error.

SOFTBALL
Mariposa 7,
Ripon Christian 1
MARIPOSA — The Knights (0-1, 5-4) opened Southern League play against the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI champion.
Katie O’Leary hit a double to plate Nicole Chapman in the fourth inning. Mariposa (1-0, 9-1) led 5-0 through three innings.