Dons Home Opener Ends in 4-4 Tie with LA Valley

Nestor Linares drives in Troy Baird from third base in the fourth inning for the Dons first run of the game against LA Valley. The game would eventually be called a 4-4 tie.
Nestor Linares drives in Troy Baird from third base in the fourth inning for the Dons first run of the game against LA Valley. The game would eventually be called a 4-4 tie.

SANTA ANA -  For just the 16th time in over 2,500 games, the Santa Ana College baseball team played to a tie. Today's game against Los Angeles Valley College was called after eight complete innings due to darkness with a final score of 4-4.

The last time the Dons (1-0-1) were involved in a tie was 2000, and before that 1997. From there, you have to go to 1982 for the next occurrence of this rare baseball event.

The game made its way to a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning with the visiting Monarchs (0-0-1) scoring a pair of runs on two hits. The Dons took a 4-2 lead into the inning before a RBI-single and a balk allowed LA Valley to force the tie. Neither team was able to get a runner past first base for the remainder of the game following the score being tied.

The Dons took the 4-2 lead in the fifth inning after trailing early, 2-0. The Monarchs scored in the second inning on a solo home run before going up 2-0 in the third, aided by a SAC error. The Dons would come back in the fourth to take their first lead of the game.

Troy Baird led the inning off with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Nestor Linares then singled up the middle to score Baird before stealing second base. Next up was Patrick Cromwell who drew a walk before he and Linares advanced on a wild pitch.

Colin Winn provided the hit that put the Dons ahead when he singled up the middle to score both Linares and Cromwell while giving the Dons a 3-2 lead. Baird would score the Dons fourth run in the fifth inning, again on a Linares single.

The Dons stay home for their next game as they host College of the Desert Friday, January 30 at 2:00 p.m.