CSUDH Baseball Weekly Release
April 3, 2002

THIS WEEK IN TOROS BASEBALL
Apr. 2 CSUDH @ Cal State LA (DH) Reeder Field, 2:30 PM
Apr. 5 CSUDH vs. Cal State Stanislaus (DH) Dennis Gilbert Field, 12 Noon
Apr. 6 CSUDH vs. Cal State Stanislaus (DH) Dennis Gilbert Field, 12 Noon

WHAT'S ON TAP: The Toros will be looking to break a 4-game losing streak after being swept by Cal Poly Pomona this past weekend. CSUDH will travel to cross-town rival Cal State LA on Tuesday before hosting Cal State Stanislaus in a four-game CCAA series this weekend on Friday and Saturday.

CAL POLY DRAWS FIRST BLOOD WITH 6-3 WIN: Cal Poly Pomona took the first game of a four-game series over the Toros with a 6-3 CCAA victory last Thursday. The Broncos took a 2-0 lead in the second inning but CSUDH tied the game in the bottom of the third inning on a fielder's choice groundout with the bases loaded by 2B David Keesee. The double-play relay by Pomona second baseman Benny Winslow was wide at first allowing Toros CF Mike Milstead to score from second to tie the game. Cal Poly took the lead for good in the fifth on a solo home run by C Gregor Connors to left field making it 3-2. The Broncos added another solo homer in the sixth inning by Winslow to give them a 4-2 lead. CPP then plated two insurance runs in the top of the eighth on a 2-run single with the bases loaded to take a 6-2 lead. Cal State Dominguez Hills got a run back in the bottom of the stanza on a sacrifice fly by 3B Damien Lopez but that was as close as the Toros would get. Mike Milstead led the Toros at the plate with 2 hits. Starting RHP Chris Ingstad (5-3) suffered the loss going 8 innings allowing 6 runs on 13 hits.

BRONCOS ROUT TOROS 16-6: Cal Poly Pomona used a nine-run third inning to take control in a 16-6 CCAA victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday. CSUDH struck first in the second inning on a 2-run home run by CF Mike Milstead. However, Cal Poly Pomona answered with a 9-run third inning on 7 hits and a Toro error. CPP took an 11-2 lead in the fourth with two more runs on an error by Toros RF Joe Gevas. With two outs and runners on first and third, Gevas dropped a ball down the right field line allowing both runners to score. Cal State Dominguez Hills answered back in the bottom of the stanza with two runs on an RBI single by 3B Damien Lopez and an infield run-scoring single by Milstead making it 11-4. The Toros trimmed the deficit to 11-6 with two more runs in the seventh inning on an RBI double by DH Frank Perez followed by an RBI groundout by Lopez. But the Broncos answered back in the top of the eighth with two more runs on a 2-run single with the bases loaded making it 13-6. Pomona plated three more insurance runs in the top of the ninth to account for all the scoring on the day. Mike Milstead led the Toros squad going 2-3 at the plate with 3 RBI. Frank Perez, Damien Lopez and SS Eric Pringle also added two hits each. Starting RHP Rick Moore (3-3) suffered the loss lasting only 2-1/3 inning allowing 9 runs, 6 earned, on only 5 hits. RHP Harry Trejo did a good job out of the pen tossing 4-1/3 innings allowing only 2 runs on 3 hits.

CAL POLY PULLS OUT BROOM IN SERIES SWEEP: Cal Poly Pomona pulled out the broom on Saturday and swept the Toros in a four-game series with an 11-8 comeback win followed by a 2-0 shutout. In the first game, CSUDH jumped out to an early 8-0 lead on home runs by Tony Marquez and Damien Lopez. However, Cal Poly pushed across 11 unanswered runs to claim the 11-8 comeback win. In the game, Marquez led the squad with 5 RBI going 2-4 at the plate including a 3-run homer. LHP Steve Ressa (1-1) suffered the loss going the final 5 innings in relief allowing 3 runs on 8 hits. In the nightcap, the Toros only managed 3 hits as Cal Poly Pomona held on for a 2-0 win. CSUDH stranded 9 runners in the game and were unable to get the key hit as they were shutout for the first time this year. Starting RHP Don Bracken (2-3) suffered the loss going the first 5-2/3 innings allowing both runs on 9 hits.

LEADING THE TOROS: The Toros are 20-16-1 and 11-11 in league play after last weekend's sweep by Cal Poly Pomona. CSUDH has now lost four straight after winning 11 of its previous 13 games. C Edgar Esqueda leads the team in hitting with a .402 batting average. He is second on the squad with 29 RBI and 12 doubles on the year. DH Frank Perez follows hitting .336 and leads the team with 47 hits. RF Joe Gevas is third on the crew with a .331 average and leads the Toros with 17 extra-base hits including a team-high 6 HR. 3B Damien Lopez leads CSUDH in the production department with 31 RBI. As a team, the Toros are hitting at a .280 clip. On the mound, RHP Chris Ingstad (6-3) leads the starters with a 3.44 ERA in 68 innings pitched. RHP Don Bracken (2-3) follows with a 4.61 ERA in 7 starts spanning 41 innings. RHP Aldo Silva (6-3) is tied for the team lead in wins is second on the staff with 56-2/3 innings pitched. Freshman LHP Raul Claros (0-0) leads the team out of the bullpen with a 0.87 ERA in 7 appearances.

REVERSAL OF FORTUNE: After outscoring San Francisco State 60-29 in the four-game series the previous weekend, Cal State Dominguez Hills was outscored 35-17 by Cal Poly Pomona including a 16-6 loss in the second game of the series.

THIS WEEK'S STARTERS ON THE HILL: Junior LHP Brad Allen (1-1) will start the first game of the Cal State LA twinbill on Wednesday followed by junior RHP Chris Ingstad (5-3). Junior RHP Rick Moore (3-3) will start the first game of the twinbill on Friday against Cal State Stanislaus followed by junior RHP Don Bracken (2-3). On Saturday, RHP Aldo Silva (6-3) will start the first game followed by Ingstad who will be working on two days rest.

GOING, GOING, GONE: The Toros have out-slugged its competition thus far 27-19 in the home run department, including a school record 7 home runs in a game against San Francisco State on March 22. The crew is on pace to hit 42 on the year just 6 shy of the all-time school mark.

THE FLIGHT OF THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Cal State LA enters the week with a 7-30 overall record and a 4-18 mark in league play. The Golden Eagles have lost nine of their last 10 games. 1B Rashawn Owens leads the team with a .361 average and is second on the squad with 4 home runs. OF Mike Miller is second with a .312 average while OF Jason Martini leads the team with 25 RBI and 6 HR. On the mound, CSLA is led by LHP Cameron Gianetti (0-3) with a 3.86 ERA in 32+ innings. LHP Brandon Higelin is second on the squad with a 6.16 ERA. As a staff, CSLA has compiled a 7.73 ERA and is allowing its opposition to a whopping .356 average.

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS: Cal State Stanislaus enters the week with a 13-20 overall record and a 6-14 mark in CCAA play. The Warriors have won four of their past five games including taking three of four from Cal State LA last weekend. OF Kyle Sleeth leads Stanislaus with a .390 average and a .500 slugging percentage. Sleeth has also stolen a team-high 16 bases. 1B Hector Alaniz follows hitting .377 while 2B Jarrett DeVault is third on the squad with a .350 average. 3B Buck Simmons leads the team with 22 RBI on the season. As a team, CSUS is hitting .299 and have stolen 46-61 bases. On the mound, the Warriors are led by LHP Justin Schwitters (2-5) with a 3.57 ERA in 40+ innings. LHP Eric Fagan (4-3) follows with a 3.99 ERA in 56.1 inning pitched. As a staff, CSUS has compiled a 5.72 ERA.

MR. CLUTCH: C Edgar Esqueda is enjoying quite a senior season with a team-high .402 average. He has been clutch with runners in scoring position batting .585 and .400 with the bases loaded.

EARLY AND OFTEN: Through innings 1-7, the Toros have outscored their opponents 252-172 including a 47-13 margin in the 7th inning. However, CSUDH is being outscored 33-18 in innings 8-9 including a 22-9 margin in the 8th inning. On the year, the Toros are outscoring the opposition 270-207.

TAKE A LEFT: Coming into the week, the Toros have owned left-handed pitching with an 11-4-1 record so far against Southpaws for a .733 winning percentage. On the other hand (literally), CSUDH is below the .500 mark against right-handers with a 10-13 mark.

Current CCAA Season Standings

THE COACH: Head coach George Wing begins his 14th season at the helm of the CSUDH baseball program. Wing became the Toros all-time winningest coach last year when he notched his 300th victory against Albertson College 2-1 on February 20, 2001. His career mark now stands at 325-352-7 entering the 2002 season.

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