Toros Baseball Trumped By Otters in 18-17 Loss
February 25, 2007

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA – In a game that saw 35 runs on 37 hits between the two squads, the Toros bullpen could not hold a late inning lead as the Otters' Brian Trump blasted a three-run homerun to left to complete the Otter comeback in CSUMB's offensive 18-17 win. With the loss, the Toros fall to 5-8-1, 1-3 CCAA while the Otters improve to 6-11, 3-5 CCAA.

The Otters would jump out quickly, scoring two runs in the 1st and three in the 2nd, which the Toros would counter with one in the 2nd and two in the 3rd, with one coming on Chris Hunter’s (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) first homerun of the year to bring CSUDH to within two at 5-3.

After single Otter runs in the 4th and 6th to stretch their lead to 7-3, the Toro bats would come alive in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) would drop a bunt down the third baseline that would be thrown over the head of the first baseman allow him to reach second, after which he would be brought home on a double down the left field line by Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS). After a Toro walk, Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) would lace a single up the middle to bring home two more Toro runs.

CSUDH would knot the game at 7-7 on the very next pitch, as Hunter hit an RBI single to right.

With still only one out in the 6th and bases loaded, Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) would rip a double down the right field line to give the Toros a 10-7 lead.

CSUMB would come right back in the top of the 7th, using RBI singles by Benjamin Mayberry and Russ Hoffman to close the gap to 10-9.

The Toro bats would remain hot in the bottom of the 7th, scoring five runs on four hits to push the Toro lead to 15-9.

After adding a single run in the top of the 8th, the Otters would explode in the top of the 9th, scoring eight runs on five hits and one Toro error. After three Otter runs crossed home plate to cut the deficit to 15-13, Trump would step into the box with two runners on and take a 3-1 pitch and blast it over the wall in left for his third homerun of the series, giving CSUMB a 16-15 lead. After a double by Daniel Gomez, Budd Glock would hit a two-run shot over the fence in right center to increase the Otter lead to 18-15.

With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Moore and Brian Sturgis (Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS) would hit back to back singles, and advance to second and third on a Toro ground out. Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) would step up next and take a 2-2 offering and lace it up the middle to score both runners and cut the deficit to 18-17. With two outs, Puckett and Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) would hit back to back singles, with the latter ricocheting off the pitcher's glove to load the bases.

However, Otter reliever Tyler Harvey would be able to get the final Toro batter to pop up for the final out of the game.

Overall, 14 pitchers would be used between the two teams and 351 pitches would be thrown in game.

At the plate, CSUMB would have its 1-4 batters in the lineup pick up two hits apiece, with Mayberry going 3-for-5 on the day and scoring four times.

Harvey would earn the win, tossing 2.0 innings and allowing two runs on five hits.

Sturgis would have four hits for the Toros while Moore would drive in four runs.

CSUDH will hit the road for a four-game set against San Francisco State, with game one slated for Friday, March 2, before returning home to face Sonoma State on Friday, March 9.