Grand Canyon Wins First Game of Baseball Series, 8-1, over CSUDH
Antelopes score eight runs in final two innings to earn first win of 4-game weekend series
February 22, 2002

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.-Cal State Dominguez Hills couldn't hold onto a 1-0 lead going into the eighth inning as visiting Grand Canyon pushes across eight runs in the final two innings to go on for the 8-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association win today at Toro Field. The game was the first of a four-game series this weekend.

Toros C Edqar Esqueda's sacrifice fly gave the home team a 1-0 lead. The score would remain the same until the top of the eighth inning when Grand Canyon got a leadoff walk followed by a double down the left field line by SS Matt Denny placing runners at second and third. RHP Brian Cortes was called upon out of the pen replacing CSUDH starter Chris Ingstad. Cortes gave up a run-scoring groundout to CF Jake Wright which tied the game. 2B Trent Otis then got the game-winning hit with a single to shortstop making it 2-1.

The Antelopes then sent 11 batters to the plate in the ninth inning scoring six unearned runs on three hits and three Toro errors. With one out and two runners on that had reached by errors, Otis hit a triple to straight-away center making it 4-1. A walk later, CF Mike Wojtkowski hit an RBI double followed by a 2-run single by C Joey Reiman to make it 7-1. Reiman then scored on a throwing error by CSUDH SS Eric Pringle, his second of the inning, to account for all the scoring on the day.

Otis led Grand Canyon (7-6, 2-2 CCAA) going 2-5 at the plate with 3 RBI. Reiman had 2 RBI while Jake Wright and David Lopez each added two hits. Starting RHP Josh Blocher (2-2) earned the win going the first 7.0 innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 6. RHP Mike Quill, who came into the game with a one run lead, pitched the final 2.0 innings to earn the save.

RHP Chris Ingstad (2-1) pitched well enough to win but instead took the loss. He went 7.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits while also striking out 6 batters. Brian Cortes pitched a scoreless inning and RHP Fernando Varela allowed 6 runs, all unearned, on 3 hits. RHP Harry Trejo came on to pitch the final out.

Cal State Dominguez Hills (7-4-1, 2-3 CCAA) will continue this four-game series tomorrow with a first pitch scheduled for 11 AM.