Chico Uses Late Rally to Take Weekend Baseball Series Opener Over Toros, 6-3
Walker leads off the top of the ninth with a home run to lead Chico State over CSUDH
April 29, 2005

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--(April 29, 2005)--Jeff Walker hit a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth to fuel a three-run rally as visiting Chico State held on for a 6-3 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first game of a four game California Collegiate Athletic Association series Friday afternoon at Toro Field.

Chico State starter Ben Buker and Toro starter Jason Garcia (South Gate/South Gate HS) were locked up in a pitcher's duel through the first seven frames. Buker allowed just two hits through the first five innings, while Garcia scattered four hits and struck out three over the same span.

Garcia got into trouble in the fourth when with one out 3B Joseph Ramos and RF Chad Williams hit back-to-back singles. Garcia then plunked LF Chad Smith to load the bases. DH Jeff Mayberry followed with an RBI single up the middle and SS Chad Nelson hit a perfectly placed squeeze bunt single to the pitcher to make it 2-0.

It stayed that way until the seventh when CSUDH 1B Ian Corso (Thousand Oaks/Thousand Oaks HS) cut the lead in half with a solo home run to deep left field, his tenth of the season.

Chico State made it 3-1 in the eighth when pinch hitter Jonathan Shepard got on with a single and proceeded to swipe his third base of the year. Garcia struck out Mayberry for the second out, but Nelson followed with a RBI single through the left side for the 3-1 lead.

But Corso struck again in the bottom of the frame with a two-out 2-run single to tie the game. The Toros loaded the bases with nobody out on RHP Nick Bryant who started the inning in relief of Buker. 2B Houston Hernandez (La Mirada/St. Paul HS) hit a leadoff double, followed by a single from 3B Chris Martinez (Torrance/So. Torrance HS). Chico State catcher Trevor Weedon was called for catcher's interference with RF Ricky Eda (Palos Verdes/Peninsula HS) at the plate in the next at bat to juice the bases. It looked like Bryant would get out of trouble after inducing a popup and striking out LF Jose Montes (Pacoima/San Fernando HS), but Corso hit a two-strike pitch to left field to knot the score at 3-3. DH Matt Hopps (Torrance/So. Torrance HS) struck out swinging with runners on first and second to end the inning.

It didn't take the Wildcats long to take the lead for good with Walker hitting his first home run of the season off reliever David Leyva (Los Angeles/Serra HS). Pedro Gutierrez (Carson/Carson HS) came on with a runner on and allowed a 2-run homer to Williams well over the right field wall for the final score. Chico closer Nick Burger came on in the ninth and retired the side in order to notch his CCAA league-leading 13th save of the season.

Chico State (32-11-1, 19-10), who came into the week ranked No. 12 in the latest NCAA II poll, was led offensively by four players with two hits each, including Williams who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Nick Bryant (2-3), despite giving up the lead in the eighth, took the win in relief.

Corso led the Toros going 3-for-4 with three RBI including his 10th homer of the year. Houston Hernandez also added two hits, both doubles. Leyva (0-2) suffered the loss in relief allowing two runs on one hit and a walk while not getting an out. Starter Jason Garcia's strong start was wasted. Garcia finished with a line of 8.0 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and striking out eight batters.

These same two teams will continue the weekend series with a twinbill tomorrow beginning at 11 AM.