Broncos Take First Game of Pomona Baseball Series With Late-Inning Outburst, 8-4
March 6, 2003

Complete Box Score

POMONA, Calif.--Cal Poly Pomona used a five-run eighth inning to fuel the come-from-behind win, 8-4, in the first game of this week's four-game series against the Toros in California Collegiate Athletic Association action today at Scolinos Field.

The Toros, ranked 29th in this week's NCAA II Collegiate Baseball poll, are now 10-9 overall and 6-7 in CCAA play. The win snaps a five-game losing streak for the Broncos and are now 4-16 and 3-10 in league.

CSUDH jumped out on top in the third inning on a two-out RBI single from RF Jason Flores with runners on first and second.

Pomona took the lead in the bottom of the inning with two runs on two hits. With a runner on third, Cal Poly RF Matt Stevens hit an infield single to tie the game, 1-1. Stevens advanced to second after Toro starter Brian Cortes was called for a balk. Stevens then scored on a double by DH Kenneth Galindo to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead.

The Toros tied it in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by C Frankie Valle. 1B Tony Marquez led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a fly ball.

Cal State Dominguez Hills took a 4-2 lead in the sixth on three hits in the inning. With one out, DH Frank Perez singled to center then moved to third on Marquez's second double of the day. 2B David Keesee then hit a drive to the gap in right-center for a double scoring Perez. Valle then reached on a fielders choice scoring Marquez from third.

With runners on first and third in the sixth, Keesee was tagged out at home on an attempted squeeze play for the second out. CF Andrew Rodriguez laid down a good bunt, but it was right at pitcher Efren Lira who fielded it cleanly and fed a perfect throw to home for the out. SS Eric Pringle then struck out swinging to end the inning.

Pomona got a run back in the seventh on a sacrifice fly cutting the lead to 4-3. The Broncos then pushed across five runs on five hits and a Toro errors in the eighth while sending nine batters to the plate for the 8-4 lead.

CSUDH's Brian Cortes, who was sharp all day, faltered in the eighth allowing CPP to load the bases with no outs. Cortes had to leave after suffering a slight strain in his hamstring which brought in RHP Aldo Silva with the bases loaded. Silva promptly struck out C James Nepa for the first out but then gave up a 2-run double and an RBI single giving the Broncos a 6-4 lead.

After freshman LHP Fred Medina relieved Silva, Medina gave up two run-scoring singles to account for the final.

Cortes (2-1) took the loss pitching seven innings while allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits. It was his first loss of the year.

Marquez led the team with two hits at the plate, both doubles. Valle knocked in two of the Toros runs on a fielders choice and a sacrifice fly.

The Broncos Taylor Wilding (1-0) earned his first win of the season in relief. Wilding went the final three innings holding the Toros scoreless with one hit. LF Andy Gonzales and 3B Anthony Gonzales each had three hits on the day.

These same two teams will meet again tomorrow in a single game at 2:30 before finishing up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Toro Field beginning at noon.