PASADENA, CA — The Arroyo Seco Saints hosted the Philippine National Collegiate team last night for the second year in a row. 

It was a scoreless ballgame until the third, where the Philippines brought two across. Jacob Henderson (Iowa) took the mound in the fourth and protected his no-hitter season so far this season, with 8 flawless innings pitched. 

The Saints finally found the board in the 5th inning. Mason Hammonds (Tarleton State) started the inning with a double. After taking third on a wild pitch, he scored on a fielder’s choice RBI from James Nelson (Longwood). 

Three back-to-back hits in the top of the 6th brought in the Philippines’ third run and left the Saints trailing by two again. It wasn’t until the 8th that Arroyo Seco managed to score again. 

Alex Birge (Wichita State) drew a walk and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. Julian Alvarez (Cal Baptist) brought Birge around on a single.Connor Bradshaw (Pepperdine), the Saints’ most recent Player of the Week, singled to put a runner back on base after Alvarez was put out. Pinch hitter Jared Quandt (Hawaii) drew a walk in the next at-bat. Raider Tello (Iowa) came in clutch with a single to tie the game. 

Calvin Bickerstaff (Kent State) came in from the bullpen and struck out the side in the top of the 9th. Hammonds started the inning by drawing a walk, and a pass ball put him on second. Birge came to the plate and delivered a game-winning single. 

Though not a CCL win, Birge says that the win established good momentum for the upcoming week — and hopefully the playoffs. 

After Wednesday’s CCL Showcase, the Saints will be back in Pasadena for the series opener against the San Luis Obispo Blues. Tune in to our Youtube Channel at 6:05 p.m. PST to watch live. 

Contributors:

• Saints Reporter Sydney Barragan (New York University)
• Saints Photographer Sonny Tapia (Cal State Long Beach)