SACRAMENTO — The Del Oro High Golden Eagles used a week off to practice their hitting.

It showed in the opening round of the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II baseball playoffs Thursday night at Sacramento City College.

Del Oro (15-13) teed off for eight extra-base hits and beat Union Mine 12-2 in a five-inning game at Union Stadium shortened by the mercy rule.

The Eagles advanced to play McClatchy in a best-of-three semifinal series beginning Monday at 8 p.m. at Sacramento City College.

The Eagles took extra batting practice and watched videos to analyze their mechanics between their 4-1 win over Oak Ridge in the regular-season finale last Thursday and the playoff opener.

“When we’ve had a chance to practice for an extra few days, we usually come out swinging the bat well,” Del Oro head coach Brett Lachemann said. “I saw our guys taking BP today and I told my coaches I had a feeling we were going to smoke the ball.”

Ben Consulo hit a two-run homer in the third inning, his first of the year. He reached base all three times and finished with three RBIs.

“It’s definitely more memorable because it came in the playoffs,” Consulo said of his home run, a blast over the right field fence on the first pitch he saw from Diamondbacks reliever Daron Baker. “Tonight was definitely a strong statement to show we belong in the playoffs.”

Jake Bews reached base in all four plate appearances and scored four runs for the Eagles. Kenny Zuvela doubled twice and drove in four runs while Thomas had three hits and drove in three runs.

Del Oro starter Cole Saunders labored through a 28-pitch first inning, walking the first two batters he faced before giving up a two-run single to Tyler Drogin.

Saunders pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and didn’t give up a hit after that. He finished with seven strikeouts and three walks.