Live Oak senior Will Patterson (5) slides home safely to score a run in the Lions’ victory over Oroville on April 17. Photo by Steven Bryla

LIVE OAK, CA (YSBC) - The Live Oak Lions baseball team finished off the sweep of the Oroville Tigers on April 17 as they won 9-2.

Live Oak is in its second year under the helm of head coach Corby Punian and the Lions have already matched the same amount of league wins (3) as they did last year.

Live Oak split with Las Plumas in the opening week of Westside League play before they completed the sweep over Oroville.

Lions senior Bradley Perigo controlled the Tigers as he was getting ahead early in the count by throwing multiple first-pitch strikes.

Live Oak junior infielder Chase Ehrke (24) connects with the ball during the Lions’ win over Oroville on April 17. Photo by Steven Bryla

Perigo tossed 3 ⅔ innings in the win as he gave up two runs off five hits and struck out five.

Perigo was also one of four Live Oak hitters with a multi-hit game in the victory.

Lions junior Chase Ehrke gave Live Oak an early 1-0 lead in the first as he hit a run-batted-in (RBI) single to left.

The Lions extended the lead to 3-0 in the second after a couple of ground balls were hit by senior Kaden and sophomore Karson Lee.

The Tigers cut the deficit to one in the fourth as they pieced together a couple of hits and forced Perigo to get the ball over the plate.

Perigo was relieved by senior Landon Epperson where he tossed and controlled Oroville the rest of the game.

Epperson finished the final 3 ⅓ innings on the mound as he only surrendered two hits, one walk and struck out seven.

Live Oak senior Landon Epperson (2) tosses a pitch on April 17 during the Lions’ victory against Oroville. Photo by Steven Bryla

Punian said that they are a different team after some recent transfers became eligible and the chemistry on the team is the highest it’s ever been.

He added that his goal for the program was to get better on a daily basis and there is an opportunity to compete for a league title.

Live Oak tacked on five runs in the fourth where they batted though the whole lineup, which included four base hits and forced a couple of walks.

Epperson and Ehrke each had an RBI in the inning. Epperson added his second RBI in the fifth as he hit a sacrifice fly.

The Lions have a big matchup this week with Gridley, who is also 3-1 in Westside League play.

The series against the Bulldogs was scheduled to start on Tuesday.

For more local sports, visit ysbcsports.com and subscribe today.

Live Oak senior Bradley Perigo (8) fields a ground ball on April 17 during the Lions’ win over Oroville. Photo by Steven Bryla