“That’s one of the main things we do best — handle the pressure,” Murphy said.
Murphy also threw out a runner at the plate trying to score on a fly ball.
Seth Hernandez threw 108 pitches, striking out eight in 7 1/3 innings. Billy Carlson earned the save. Brandon Thomas gave up only Murphy’s home run in a strong six innings for Mater Dei. The only run scored for Mater Dei came on a first-inning balk by Hernandez.
Corona will play at Aquinas on Friday in the quarterfinals.
On pitch No. 108, Seth Hernandez gets his eighth strikeout. One out B8. Billy Carlson takes over on mound. 3-1 Corona. pic.twitter.com/kN7DaYDT63
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 8, 2024
Aquinas 2, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 1: Gavin Egan and Nate Christman combined to lift the Falcons into the quarterfinals with a road victory. Egan threw five innings and Christman closed with two no-hit innings of relief. Dom Cadiz homered for Notre Dame.
D1 quarterfinals on Friday: Corona at Aquinas, Santa Margarita at Huntington Beach, Orange Lutheran vs. La Mirada at Glenn, San Dimas at Harvard-Westlake.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 8, 2024
Harvard-Westlake 3, Bonita 2: The Wolverines received three hits from James Tronstein and survived a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to advance to a Friday home game against San Dimas.
Santa Margarita 6, Gahr 3: Andre Owens, Gavin Spiridoff and Warren Gravely each had two hits for the Eagles.
San Dimas 7, Cypress 6: Rocco Regan’s two-run walk-off single in the seventh lifted San Dimas to victory. The Saints scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh, including an RBI double from Kody King.
La Mirada 5, Foothill 2: Bear Calvo had two hits and three RBIs for La Mirada, including a home run.
Huntington Beach 5, Villa Park 3: The Oilers rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring three runs in the sixth for a Division 1 victory. Matt Hansen had a two-run double and Trevor Goldenetz had two hits.
Orange Lutheran 17, Vista Murrieta 6: Nate Savoie hit two home runs, Josiah Hartshorn had four RBIs and Derek Curiel added three RBIs for Orange Lutheran.
Westlake 6, West Torrance 3: Noah Stead hit a three-run home run to help top-seeded Westlake win its Division 2 game.
Hart 1, Newport Harbor 0: Ian Edwards threw five scoreless inning and Troy Cooper closed to keep the Indians alive in Division 2. Sophomore Hayden Rhodes drove in the game’s only run.
St. Francis 2, San Juan Hills 1: Aiden Mahoney gave up one run in five innings and Noah Aguilar-Tanphanich finished up to earn a save.
Camarillo 6, Murrieta Valley 4: Tommy Goodin finished with three hits for Camarillo, seeded No. 1 in Division 4.
Los Alamitos 7, La Salle 2: Jake Evans contributed two hits and two RBIs for Los Alamitos.
Arcadia 9, Yorba Linda 1: Fernando Palencia struck out 10 and Avery Truesdale blasted a three-run home run for Arcadia.
Arlington 6, Palos Verdes 2: Nick Velazquez had three hits and Nathan Chavez threw a complete game in a Division 2 game for Arlington.
Arrowhead Christian 4, Corona Centennial 3: Ethin Bingaman delivered a walk-off single in the eighth inning. Tyler Young had a three-run home run for Arrowhead Christian.
Santa Monica 3, Ganesha 2: Tony Ponce threw three shutout innings of relief for Santa Monica.
Beckman 7, La Habra 5: Isaiah Kapur had a two-run double in the 10th inning for Beckman.
Moorpark 4, Valencia 3: Greg Lareva hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh to rally the Musketeers.
Mission Viejo 10, Chaminade 6: The Diablos advanced in Division 3.
Ayala 11, Maranatha 0: Caleb Trugman threw a four-hit shutout.
Newbury Park 8, Summit 0: Justin Frohn threw six shutout innings for the Panthers.
St. John Bosco 5, Corona del Mar 3: Owen Tomich finished with three hits for the Braves.
Granada Hills 2, Birmingham 0: The Highlanders moved into a first-place tie with Birmingham in the West Valley League and will decide the league title with a rematch Thursday at Granada Hills. Easton Hawk outdueled Michael Figueroa. Hawk, a UCLA commit, gave up two hits.
Softball
Orange Lutheran 11, Capistrano Valley 7: Mya Diaz had four hits, including a home run, and Brianne Weiss struck out 10 to lead top-seeded Orange Lutheran in a Division 1 playoff opener.
Garden Grove Pacifica 4, South Hills 3: Brynne Nally had an RBI double in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie. She struck out six and gave up two hits.
Great Oak 3, Norco 1: Miali Guachino had a two-run double in the eighth for Great Oak to break a 1-1 deadlock. She struck out 13 in eight innings.
Oaks Christian 5, Los Alamitos 1: Terrianna Kelley hit a three-run home run and Sienna Reynolds struck out nine for Oaks Christian.