Azusa Pacific Takes 7-6 Baseball Win Over Toros
March 16, 2004

Courtesy Azusa Pacific Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

It was nearly déjà vu all over again.

A month ago, Azusa Pacific had a late 3-0 lead only to drop a 5-4 decision at CS Dominguez Hills. Tuesday, the Cougars opened up another early lead and lost it before finally closing the door for a 7-6 non-conference win in Azusa.

Azusa Pacific wins its second straight and improves to 15-10 overall, while the Toros fall to 8-22.

After the Toros erased a 6-2 deficit with four runs in the final two innings, including three in the ninth, the Cougars loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth, and Glenn Hedgpeth delivered his fourth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center to score Cameron Radonich with the game-winner.

It is the second straight walk-off, game-winning sacrifice fly for the Cougars.

Azusa Pacific held a seemingly comfortable 6-2 lead heading in the eighth, but just as they did last time, the Toros battled back. They cut the lead in half on an RBI single by Zac Cort in the eighth. Daniel Pilimai then led off the ninth with a single and moved to second on a walk to Jose Montes. Joey Caira then drove in Pilimai with a double to make it 6-4 with no outs and runners on second and third.

Brad McKinney got the next two outs and induced Pedro Montero into a grounder to second, but a charging Nate Leiser double-clutched and Montero beat his throw while at the same time, Montes and pinch-runner Jason Flores scored the tying run, both unearned. Montero was thrown out trying to advance to second.

Radonich led off the ninth with a single, and then Coba Canales and Robbie Lindsey each reached on bunts—Canales’ reached on an error and Lindsey on a fielder’s choice when the Toros attempted to get Radonich at third.

Stephen Vogt opened the second with a triple before he scored on Ryan Marcos’ RBI-groundout, and the Cougars were off and running. They added two more in the third on Hedgpeth’s 2-RBI single up the middle to open a 3-0 lead, and after CS Dominguez Hills answered with an unearned run in the fourth, the Cougars gave themselves some breathing room with three runs in their half of the fourth keyed by an RBI double by Jeff Staniland and an RBI single by Leiser to take a 6-1 lead.

The Toros threatened in the fifth when they loaded bases, but Derek Wohlers came in and struck out Jason Flores to end the inning. CSUDH did add another unearned run in the sixth when Fernando Hernandez led off with a double and later scored on a passed ball.

Five Cougar pitchers combined to scatter 11 hits, 9 of them singles, and allow just 1 earned run. Brandon Sisk started and tossed 2 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit. Johnny Soberal picked up the win after he tossed 2 innings of relief. Derek Wohlers went 2.1 innings, striking out 4.

Hedgpeth finished with 3 RBIs, and Billy Gwinn was 3-for-4 with a double and a run. Radonich also had 2 hits. Hernandez was 3-for-3 for the Toros.