Pierce Gets Double-Teamed by Orange County Schools : Baseball: Brahmas knocked out of Southern California regional by setbacks to Rancho Santiago and Saddleback.

SANTA ANA —  Pierce College was eliminated from the Southern California Regional baseball playoffs Saturday, losing to Saddleback, 8-5, in an elimination-round game at Rancho Santiago.

The Brahmas started their day by losing to top-seeded Rancho Santiago, 2-0, forcing the Brahmas into the losers’ bracket game against Saddleback, which eliminated Riverside, 12-5, earlier Saturday.

Pierce was outnumbered by Rancho Santiago, Riverside and Saddleback, which play in the Orange Empire Conference.

Pierce, ranked 13th in the state, struggled both offensively and defensively against Saddleback (28-16), stranding nine runners and committing four errors. The Brahmas were behind, 8-1, in the seventh inning.

Pierce (28-18) rallied in the eighth when Brandon Murphy hit a grand slam over the left-field fence, but that was the Brahmas’ last gasp.

Jeff Shapiro led off the eighth inning with a single to right. Saddleback pitcher Ryan McDermott walked Dave Cipolla and Casey Doherty reached base on a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Johnson before Murphy’s homer.

Saddleback scored single runs in the first and second and the Brahmas picked up their first run in the fourth.

Mike Glendenning led off the fourth with a walk and took third on a single by Shapiro. Danny Anderson hit John Novak with a pitch, loading the bases with none out.

After Cipolla struck out, Doherty singled home Glendenning. Shapiro also tried to score but was thrown out at the plate on a strong relay throw by second baseman Jason Pierson.

Pierce’s Rusty Howard gave up six hits and four earned runs before being relieved by Keith Reed in the seventh with the Brahmas trailing, 6-1.

Howard walked four and threw a wild pitch in the seventh, allowing two runs to score.

The Brahmas played well against Rancho Santiago, the top-ranked team in Southern California, but couldn’t solve the Dons’ ace, Luis Estrella.

Estrella (9-1), who has suffered from a sore shoulder, had what assistant coach Don Popovich said “was his best outing this season.”

Estrella’s slider forced the Pierce batters into 14 ground-ball outs. When the Brahmas did get on base, Estrella, who faced 29 batters in 8 2/3 innings, shut them down, picking off two runners at first base.

“[Our coaches] emphasize the little things,” Estrella said about his pick-off move. “It kills their rally. It knocks the wind right out of them.”

Pierce’s only real threat against Estrella came in the first inning when Jeff Astgen singled with one out and stole second. But Glendenning grounded out to short and Shapiro flied out to right.

Rancho Santiago, which stretched its winning streak to 11 games, scored in the second and Kyle Evans added his 11th home run in the eighth.

Saddleback, which lost to Rancho Santiago, 14-3, Friday, must defeat the Dons twice today to earn a spot in the State tournament. The Dons need only one victory to advance.

Shapiro had four hits in the two games.