Toros Charge Past Gators in Game One, 8-1, Before Dropping 12-10 Extra Inning Baseball Decision in Nightcap
March 25, 2006

Complete Box Score
Game 1        Game 2

Carson, CA – CSUDH cruised to an 8-1 win in game one Saturday over visiting San Francisco State on the arm of starter Chris Borchers (Torrance, CA/LA Harbor College), who allowed one run while striking out six batters, and the bat of Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State LA), whose 3RBI double to put the game out of reach. The Toros blew a 7-0 lead in dropping a 12-10 game two decision. With the split, the Toros move to 13-13, 6-7 CCAA, while the Gators are at 12-14, 6-9 CCAA.

Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) got the Toros going in the 2nd inning of the opener with a two-out single to left field, moving to second on a failed pick off attempt. Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) would welcome the opportunity as he would take 1-2 offering from Gator starter Brandon Glazebrook and drive it to left to bring home Puckett for the first run of the ball game, advance to second on the throw home, move to 3rd on a failed pick off attempt and come home on a SFSU fielding error.

After a lead off single by SFSU’s D.J. Stacey in the top of the 5th, Derek Simper would double home Stacey on a ball to the center field wall, cutting the Toros lead to 2-1.

CSUDH would capitalize on a bases loaded fielding error by the Gators to push their first run across of the next inning, and Marquez would put the game out of reach one batter later with a bases-clearing double down the left field line, pushing the CSUDH lead to 6-1.

The Toros would chip on single runs in the 7th and 8th innings to close out the 8-1 victory.

Glazebrook would receive the loss, lasting only 2.0 innings, while giving up four runs on five hits.

Borchers would pick up his fourth win of the season, throwing 8.0 innings, giving up one run on six hits while striking out six batters.

In the nightcap Toro starter Ryan Owen (Riverside, CA/West Torrance HS) was untouchable through the first three innings, allowing no base runners and striking out four of the nine batters he faced.

Meanwhile, the Toro offense bullied Gator starter Ben Horner, scoring a single run in the 1st and six in the 2nd to build a 7-0 lead. In that 2nd inning, the Toros would send 10 batters to plate, slapping six base hits in the frame.

The Gators would not be phased by the seven run deficit, however, scoring four runs in the 4th and three more in the 5th to tie the game at 7-7.

Marquez would again step up to the challenge in the bottom of the 5th as he blasted a solo shot over the wall in left field for his third home run of the season to give the Toros a 8-7 lead.

The Gators, however, would answer back, ensuring their comeback attempt was not in vain. After back-to-back-to-back singles by Simper, Casey Garrison, and Stacey to load the bases in the top of the 7th, Toro reliever Gary Scott (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) would be called with a balk, knotting the game at 8-8.

The Toro bullpen would continue to have problems as they allowed four runs in the top of the 9th.

CSUDH would rally in the bottom of the inning with two runs, but Gator reliever Eric Plantano would hold the lead and receive the save.

Reliever Takane Suzuki would get credit for the win, tossing 3.2 innings of relief, allowing to runs on four hits while striking out three, while CSUDH starter Owen would receive the loss, giving up seven runs on eight hits, while striking out seven.

Puckett would lead the offense with three hits, while Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) drove in three RBIs.

The Toros will conclude their four-game set with San Francisco State tomorrow morning, with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 am on Toro Field.