Puckett’s Walk-Off Homerun Downs Coyotes in Series Opener as CSUDH Wins 6-5
Sophomore Cody Puckett blasts his ninth bomb of year to complete come-from-behind victory
May 3, 2007

Complete Box Score

Visiting Cal State San Bernardino took advantage of the windy conditions by blasting three long balls to account for four or their five runs, but the Toros Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) had the last long ball of the game, a two-run walk off shot to left field to give CSUDH game one of the series with a 6-5 win. With the victory, CSUDH improves to 14-34-1 and 10-23 CCAA while CSUSB falls to 27-21, 18-15 CCAA.

CSUSB’s Justin Watson got the Yotes on the board first, jumping on a 1-1 pitch from Toro starter Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/Harbor College) in the top of the 2nd and blasting it to center field for a 1-0 lead.

In bottom of the inning Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) led off with a single to center and was brought home two batters later on a RBI single up the middle by Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.), knotting the game at 1-1.

The two teams traded single runs again in the 4th inning as CSUSB scored on a double-play, while Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) knocked home Puckett with a line drive up the middle for the Toros.

With one out and a runner on first in the top of the 6th, CSUSB’s Patrick Walked drove the first pitch to deep left center for a two-run shot to recapture the lead for CSUSB.

Walker stepped into the box for his next at bat in the top of the 8th and launched his second bomb of the game to left, extending the Coyote lead to 5-2.

The Toro comeback started with a single through the left side by Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) in the top of the 8th, followed by back-to-back singles by Puckett and Hicks, with the latter driving home Hernandez from second.

With the bases loaded in the inning and one out Martin Code (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) received a free pass to first by getting plunked on his back, forcing home Puckett and cutting the CSUSB lead to 5-4.

In the Toros’ last at bat one inning later, Hernandez hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop that was misplayed, and Puckett then stepped into the batter’s box and sent everyone home, blasting his ninth homerun of the season for the walk-off shot to left.

Toro starter Phillips put in a strong outing in receiving the no decision, allowing four runs in seven innings and striking out eight.

Reliever James Dodson (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood HS) picked up his second win of the year in relief, tossing two innings.

Puckett led the offense with three hits and scored three runs while Hicks chipped in a pair of singles on the day.

The two teams will do battle again tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm on Toro Field for the last home game of the season, and the final home game for 11 seniors in Houston Hernandez, James Dodson, Gus Hernandez, Jerit Coleman, Mateo Marquez, MurphiBennett Kennedy, Dustin Hicks, Michael Craig, Kyle Schneider, Scott Moore, and Buddy McNeill.