Cal Baptist Answers CSUDH Rally to Take 14-13 Extra-Inning Decision
Jason Flores leads Toros with 4-for-6, 3 RBI effort
April 7, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills senior Jason Flores (Whittier, CA/St. Paul HS) led a furious Toro rally by stinging four hits and driving in three RBI, but visiting Cal Baptist answered CSUDH's rally with one of its own, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth and the winning run in the top of the 11th inning to escape with a 14-13 win in a Wednesday afternoon nonconference game.

The Toros fall to 10-38, while the Lancers improve to 20-16.

After spotting CBU a 6-1 lead heading into the bottom of the third frame, the Toros began their rally as Flores knocked in the inning's first run with an RBI double to left field. A Joey Caira (La Palma, CA/Kennedy HS) RBI double and an Ian Corso (Thousand Oaks, CA/Thousand Oaks HS) sacrifice fly would bring the Toros to within two, giving them momentum.

After the Lancers answered with three runs over the next two innings, CSUDH again found its stroke, tying the game at 9-9 with five runs over the fifth and sixth innings, the key blows coming on a Flores RBI single and sacrifice flies by Corso and Caira.

CSUDH would take its first lead of the frame in the seventh inning as Corso blasted his third home run of the season over the center field fence and add another run in its next at-bat, only to have CBU touch reliever Jose Montes (Pacoima, CA/San Fernando HS) with four runs in the top of the ninth to reclaim the lead at 13-11. Flores, however, would help CSUDH tie the game at 13-13 as he lined his fourth hit of the contest to bring home Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) and send Chris Martinez (Torrance, CA/South HS) to third base, setting the table for Martinez to knot the game a CBU wild pitch.

Cal Baptist would threaten in the top of the 10th inning, advancing Casey Hobbs to second base on a sacrifice bunt. The Lancers had a great opportunity to score one out later as Isamu Nigro lined a single to right field, sending Hobbs scampering around third base eyeing home plate. Right fielder Zac Cort (El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) had other ideas, throwing a rope to catcher Efren Esparza (Compton, CA/Dominguez HS), who tagged Hobbs for the third out of the inning.

The momentum would be short lived for CSUDH, however, as Cal Baptist strung together three-consecutive hits in the 11th inning to score the decisive run off reliever Trevor Renck (Anaheim, CA/Savanna HS), giving the Lancers a 14-13 victory.

Cort and Fernando Hernandez (South Gate, CA/South Gate HS) each contributed three hits on the afternoon, while Caira and Corso each tallied three RBI in the loss.

Renck, the 10th Toro pitcher of the afternoon, allowed one run and five hits in two innings of work to take the loss (0-5).

For the Lancers, Oscar Enriquez stroked a game-high five hits, while Marcus Wyatt drove home five runs on four hits, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

CBU reliever Oscar Serrato hurled the final six innings to pick up his sixth victory of the season, allowing four runs and 10 hits (6-3).

CSUDH returns to CCAA action as it hosts the UC Davis Aggies in two doubleheaders on Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10. First pitch of Friday's game one is scheduled for a 12 noon start on Toro Field.