SBCC took an early 4-1 lead, then Saddleback outscored them 14-2 on the way to a 15-6 baseball win at Doug Fritz Field in Mission Viejo.
The Gauchos (3-0) won the hitting battle, 14-6, and five pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts.
Right fielder Izaiah Faz led Saddleback, going 3-3 with a two-run double that snapped a 4-4 tie and ignited a six-run third-inning uprising.
Kyle Froemke went 2-5 for the Vaqueros (2-1), who took a 4-1 lead with a four-run third and didn't score again until the seventh when they plated two runs on an RBI single by Jacob Bravo and a sacrifice fly by Alonzo Rubalcaba.
Blake Corsentino started for Santa Barbara but only lasted two innings, giving up six runs on seven hits. Five Vaquero hurlers walked seven and hit four batters.
The same teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
