Toros Power Past Broncos, Sweep CCAA Baseball Double-Header, 10-6 & 19-6
Puckett hits two home runs, Klug blasts grand-slam as CSUDH clinches No. 1 seed on “Senior Day”
May 6, 2006

Complete Box Scores
Game 1         Game 2

Carson, CA - The No. 23 ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros put on a power display to take both games of the double-header by 10-6 and 19-6 counts, and complete the four-game sweep of Cal Poly Pomona.

Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) hit a two-run homer in each game, while Jason Klug (Moreno Valley, CA/San Bernardino Valley College) blasted a grand-slam in the nightcap to lead the Toros to the pair of wins.

With the wins, CSUDH improves to 31-16 overall and 20-10 in conference, and earns the No. 1 seed heading into the CCAA tournament. Their entry into the tourney marks the first time in the Toros have earned a berth in its eight-year history. The team will face the No. 4 seed in Chico State at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 11, with the double-elimination tournament hosted by Cal State L.A.

With the loss, Cal Poly Pomona ends its 2006 season with a record of 20-31 overall and 15-20 in conference.

After a lead-off walk in the bottom of the 2nd to Isidro Perez (South Gate, CA/LA Harbor College) in the opener, Puckett would take the first pitch he saw and send it over the wall in left center field.

The Broncos would recover in the top of the 4th, using a two-out single to left by Marc Evens, followed by a double down the right field line by John Daniels to put runners on second and third. Evan Barnhart would knot the game at two, with a 2-RBI single to right.

After CPP scored twice to take a 4-2 lead, the Toros would answer with three in the bottom of the 6th on a 2-RBI double by Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) and a RBI single by Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS).

Following two runs apiece by each squad in the 7th, CSUDH would score three runs in the bottom of the 8th to extend its lead to 10-6, where it would remain.

Bronco reliever Anthony Romero would receive the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in 2.1 inning of work, while Jake Mendrin led CPP’s offense, going 2-for-4 with a two-run home run.

Toro starter Chris Borchers (Torrance, CA/La Harbor College) would pick up his eighth win of the year, allowing six runs on eight hits, while striking out nine in eight innings of work.

Puckett would drive in four runs in the game, two courtesy of his two-run bomb, and the other two coming on a double to left in the 6th.

In game two the Broncos would get out the gate quickly, scoring three runs in the first two innings.

CSUDH would not let the Broncos to too far ahead, however, scoring three runs in the bottom of the 2nd on a pair of RBI singles by Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) and senior A.J. Gomez (Playa del Rey, CA/LA Harbor College).

The Toros would bust out the big bats in the bottom of the 3rd with 11 runs on eight hits, including 4 home runs, to put the game far out of reach. Conde would hit a solo shot, Puckett and Perez would each hit two-run bombs, and Klug would cap the power surge with a grand-slam.

CSUDH would not slow down, scoring five runs in the bottom of the 4th, extending its lead to 19-4.

CPP senior Chase Stroupe would hit a two out solo shot to left field in top of the 6th, and fellow senior Barnhart would hit an RBI fielder’s choice in the top of the 7th for the Broncos’ final two runs of the game.

Bronco starter Mike Quintal would receive the loss, allowing 14 runs (only two were earned) on 11 hits.

Stroupe would lead the offense, going 4-for-4 in the nightcap with two RBIs.

Reliever Gary Scott (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) would pick up his second win of the year, allowing one run on four hits, in three innings on the mound.

Senior Fred Medina (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS) and Hernandez would each go 3-for-4, while Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.), Puckett, and Gomez would each be 3-for-5 in the game.