PASADENA, CA—The Arroyo Seco Saints defeated the MLB Academy Barons 9-1 in their ninth and final summer match.

Ahmad Harajli (Miami, OH) made his first start of the season and was dominant. In five innings, he struck out nine Barons hitters and allowed only one run and one hit.

“Anytime you get to be able to get a start, it feels good,” Harajli said.

Nick Lazzara (Trinity) scored the Saints’ first run with a sac fly. Later in the inning, Jakob Schardt (Cal State Fullerton) scored on a passed ball.

The game remained scoreless until the fourth when Lazzara scored on a groundout from Adrian Lopez (USC). The fourth was the Saint’s biggest inning of the game as they scored five runs. Josh Livingston (Wichita State) drove in Joey Donnelly (UC Berkley). Joey Craig (New Mexico State) scored on a balk, and Tyler Gordon (portal) hit an RBI single to put the Saints up 6-0. Easton Elliot (Long Beach State) brought home the Saint’s final run of the inning.

The Barons scored their only run of the night on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth.

Elliot drove home another run in the sixth, and Donnelly scored on a walk one inning later to put them up 9-1, which would be the final.

With the win, the Saints have a chance to secure a spot in hosting a home playoff game. They return on Saturday to face the OC Riptide and battle for home-field advantage.

• Saints reporter Dylan Gonzales (Fresno State)
• Saints reporter Noah Pineda (UT Austin)
• Saints photographer Elijah Hickmann (Cal Baptist)