Caden Hodina and Cole Schoenwetter combined for 11 strikeouts as San Marcos moved into the quarterfinal round in the CIF-SS Division 3 baseball playoffs with a 5-2 win at Tahquitz Tuesday in Hemet.
Hodina started the game and gave up just two hits and one earned run in six innings, with eight strikeouts. Schoenwetter then struck out the only three batters he faced in the seventh.
The two pitchers each had an RBI, Schoenwetter on a double and Hodina on a sac fly. Owen Estabrook added a home run.
Steven Bradley started the Royals’ offense with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the second.
Patrick Kelly had three hits for the Royals, and Mason Pettingill had two hits and two runs scored.
The Royals, entering the playoffs as the 3rd-ranked team in Division 3, will play at Redlands East Valley High School on Friday at 3:15 p.m.