Three early homers and a complete-game gem from Trenton Cloward lifted top-seeded Ripon Christian’s baseball team to a 6-1 win that evens its Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI semifinal series with Colfax.

The winner-take-all finale is today back at Ripon Christian (27-3).

Colfax (13-5-1) hosted game 2 and never led.

That’s because Maxx Anderson and Stadtler Postma slugged back-to-back jacks with two outs in the top of the first inning, and Noah De Bruyn added a solo shot of his own the following inning.

Jackson Howell added two RBIs, making it 4-0 with a double in the fourth and driving in another with a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

Postma finished 3 for 3 with two runs and three steals. Ripon Christian totaled 11 hits.

Cloward contributed two hits and a run to the attack. From the mound, he limited the fifth-seeded Falcons to six hits and no walks while striking out six.

Jaimeson Rawlins drove in Jono Cleek in the bottom of the fourth for Colfax’s lone run.

In the other semifinal, No. 2 Amador (24-5-1) completed a two-game sweep of Bear River. The title round takes place May 23 at Sacramento City College.

DIVISION III

El Capitan 11, Manteca 0 (5)

The No. 3 Buffaloes (22-10) had not been shut out all season until their two games this week against the Central California Conference champion.

Senior Benny Centeno starred for the host Gauchos (25-7), who won their 14th straight while emphatically punctuating the two-game sweep.

Centeno pitched a mercy-shortened one-hitter, struck out four and faced just one batter over the minimum. He was also productive at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a run and four RBIs. Angel Rivera drove in three runs.

Brixton Menchaca-Ortiz had the lone hit for Manteca.

Seventh-seeded El Capitan will meet No. 1 Rio Americano in the championship game next Wednesday at Sac City College.