Leyva Grounds Southern Utah Thunderbirds As CSUDH Baseball Routs Southern Utah, 14-1
Houston Hernandez, Michael Craig combine to go 7-for-9 with six RBIs
February 15, 2007

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA – It was an impressive team effort from the Toros. Starter David Leyva (Los Angeles, CA/Junipero Serra HS) grounded the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah University, allowing one run on four hits while striking out six batters in seven innings on the mound. The duo of Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, St. Paul HS) and Michael Craig (Rolling Hills, CA/Pepperdine University) did the damage at the plate with a combined seven hits and six RBIs to lead CSUDH over SUU 14-1. With the win the Toros improve to 2-4-1, while the Thunderbirds are still searching for their first win in dropping to 0-4.

Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) and Hernandez would lead off the 1st with back-to-back singles and both would be driven in two batters later on a double down the right field line by Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College), tacking on two more runs in the 1st and one more in the 2nd and 4th innings.

In the top of the 3rd SUU’s Joe Wright would lead off with a walk, steal second, and then advance to third on a single by Keli’i Zablan. Leyva would then catch Zablan leaning the wrong way at first and pick him off, but Wright would score from third for the Thunderbirds’ lone run of the game.

With two outs in the bottom of the 5th, Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) would rope a double to right center. Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) would drive Moore home with a single to right, and then come home himself on a double by Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) to put the Toros up 8-1.

After a leadoff walk to Hernandez in the bottom of the 6th, Craig would take a 1-0 offering and blast his fourth homerun of the season.

CSUDH would continue its offensive assault, scoring three runs in the 7th and one in 8th.

Zablan would have two hits for the Thunderbirds, while starter Matt Wilson would be shelled for eight runs on 11 hits in 4.2 innings on the mound.

At the plate Hernandez would enjoy a 4-for-4 day with a walk, while Craig, Moore, and Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) each had three hits.

Leyva would be relieved after 100 pitches, and the duo of James Dodson (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood HS) and Buddy McNeil (Pasadena, CA/Azusa Pacific) would toss an inning apiece out of the pen, allowing only one hit to seal the Toro rout.

The two teams hook up again tomorrow for a single game, with first pitch starting at 2 pm on Toro Field.