Wildcats Sneak by Toros as CSUDH Baseball Falls to No. 12 Chico State 4-3
April 27, 2007

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA – Just having knocked out the CCAA’s second place saves leader and then loading the bases with just one out in the bottom of the 9th, CSUDH loaded the bases with one out but Chico State’s Elliott Tyson fanned the final two Toros on check swings to dash the Toros’ hopes of upsetting No. 12-ranked Chico State in the Wildcats’ 4-3 win. With the loss the Toros fall to 13-31-1, 9-20 CCAA and CSUC improves to 39-9, 20-9 CCAA.

The nationally-ranked Wildcats struck first in the top of the 4th on a sacrifice fly to center field by Carl Fairburn, allowing Edgar Sedano to tag and score from third.

Greg Finazzo kept the pressure on Toro starter Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/Harbor College) in the next inning, dropping down a bunt single and advancing to second on a ground out to the shortstop that was bobbled, forcing a throw to first base.

With two outs and runners on second and third, Sedano laced the first pitch through the hole on the right side of the infield to extend the Wildcat lead to 3-0.

In bottom of the inning, however, Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.) stepped into the batter’s box with two outs and blasted an 0-1 pitch to dead center field for his ninth bomb of the season.

CSUDH tacked on another run in the bottom of the 6th when a pick-off attempt with runners on first and third caught the runner at first leaning the wrong way, however the rundown that followed allowed Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) to score easily from third to cut the Wildcat lead to 3-2.

After CSUC tacked on another run in the top of the 8th, the Toros headed into the bottom of the 9th down two when Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) laced a ball to the shortstop that was misplayed, allowing him to reach. Pinch hitter David Leyva (Los Angeles, CA/Junipeor Serra HS) hit a ground ball to third that looked like a possible double-play, but Leyva hustled down the line and beat the throw off the second baseman’s turn.

After a wild pitch and single to center by Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) placed runners at the corners, a throwing error by the pitcher allowed Leyva to score to cut the lead to 4-3.

CSUC went to the pen to create the lefty-lefty match up, but the Toros countered with a right-handed pinch hitter in Brett Halstead (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS), who drew a walk to load the bases with one out.

The Wildcats again went to the bullpen and Tyson delivered the knockout blow, striking out the final two batters to end the Toro upset and earn his first save of the year.

Both starting pitchers put in tremendous efforts in a pair of eight-inning performances, with Nick Bryant improving to 9-0 on the season, recording eight strikeouts while walking two on 110 pitches. Phillips, meanwhile, struck out seven and walked only one on 108 pitches.

The two teams go at it again in a Saturday morning double-header, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 11:00 am on Toro Field.