PASADENA, Ca- The Arroyo Seco Saints came out of its three-day all-star break with an 8-6 loss to the MLB Academy Barons.

Despite the loss, Trajan Lee (Trinity) delivered a brilliant start for the Saints, going six innings and allowing only one run while striking out seven.

This was Lee’s fourth start against the Barons, and he now boasts a 2.65 ERA against them.

Lee credited the catcher and close friend Nick Lazzara (Trinity) for helping him keep the Baron hitters off balance.

“He knows what I like to throw, and he calls it a great game back there,” Lee said.

The Barons tested the Saint’s defense right away as center fielder Crew McChesney (BYU) and left fielder Easton Elliot (Long Beach State) both made diving catches to open up the game for Lee.

“I’m always thankful when my defenders help me out, especially like that,” Lee said.

Elliot sacrificed his body for the team again in the bottom of the first when a pitch hit him, but he was left stranded on third base.

MLB Academy scored its only run on Lee in the top of the second on an RBI double from designated hitter Maximus Berber (Whittier) to put the Barons up 1-0.

After two scoreless innings, the Saints got to Baron’s starter, Grant Faris (Golden West), with McChesney scoring on an RBI groundout from designated hitter Jakob Schardt (Cal State Fullerton).

The Saints took a 2-1 lead with an RBI double from first baseman Joey Donnelly (UC Berkley) in the fourth inning.

Lee kept the lead intact with scoreless fifth and sixth innings. This marked the first time all summer that a Saints pitcher completed six innings.

“I honestly could’ve gone for a seventh [inning], but that’s alright; that’s the way baseball works, and it’s a pretty good outing overall,” Lee said.

With the stellar performance on the mound, Lee now has a 3.24 ERA and allowed just two runs across his last nine innings pitched.

Arroyo Seco built its lead to 6-1 with a four-run bottom of the sixth. Donnelly had an RBI double, second baseman Sheehan O’Connor (New Mexico State) had a two-run triple and right fielder Joey Craig (New Mexico State) capped it off with an RBI single.

The double was Donnelly’s second of the game and gave him six multi-hit games in his last 12.

Donnelly credits his recent surge to increased confidence.

“I feel better in the box and more confident,” Donnelly said. “Confidence typically equals success.”

Eli Hernandez (Emporia State) came in for Lee and gave up two runs in the top of the seventh.

Things unraveled for the Saints the following inning as the Barons went ahead 8-6 after a five-run inning. The Barons roughed up Hernandez with four straight hits, which tied the game.

Consequently, head coach Aaron Milam removed Hernandez from the game with a runner on second. Braydon Sanford (Oral Roberts) entered the game and immediately gave up the go-ahead two-run home run.

The Saints loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the eighth but could not come up with anything and eventually lost 8-6.

They return home on Friday against the Conejo Oaks.

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