Late Otter Long Ball Sinks Toros as CSUDH Baseball Falls to CSUMB 9-7
February 23, 2007

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA – In a back and forth contest that saw the Toros up by one as late as the 7th inning, CSUMB would use its third homerun of the day, a two-run shot to right center, to hand the Toros a loss in their conference opener. With the loss CSUDH falls to 4-6-1, 0-1 CCAA and CSUMB improves to 4-10, 1-4 CCAA.

Things would start well for the Toros in the bottom of the 1st with a single by leadoff man Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS), who would be driven in a few batters latter by Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/ Cal State L.A.). Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) would follow Marquez and double to right center to bring home the second Toro run of the inning for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Otters would respond in the top of the 3rd, scoring their first two runs on a sacrifice fly to center that would be lost in the transfer from the glove to the hand, allowing a runner from second to score. Brian Trump would then step into the batter’s box and take a 1-2 offering and send it over the wall in left field for a 2-run homerun.

The Otters would add single runs in the top of the 4th and 6th, but the Toros countered with a run in the bottom of the 5th to bring CSUDH within three at 6-3.

CSUDH would use an RBI single to center by Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) and a wild pitch to plate two runs, and a sacrifice fly to center by Brian Sturgis (Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS) would knot the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the 6th.

The Toros would retake the lead in the bottom of the 7th on a double to right center by Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS), but the Otters would have one last long ball in them in the top of the 8th.

With a runner on first and one out, defensive replacement Benjamin Mayberry would take the first pitch he saw and blast it over the fence in right center field.

CSUMB would add an insurance run in the next inning, and the Toros would not be able to get anything going in the remaining innings.

CSUMB reliever Shaun Busby would pick up his second win of the year while Grayson Adams would be credited with the save.

Toro starter Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/Harbor College) would labor most of the game, allowing eight runs on six hits, walking four batters and recording six strikeouts, while throwing 134 pitchers.

The two teams will meet tomorrow for a twinbill slated for an 11:00 am first pitch on Toro Field.