Toros Can’t Get by Wildcats as Chico State Sweeps Twinbill 8-2 and 5-2
April 28, 2007

Complete Box Scores »» Game 1    Game 2

Carson, CA - Visiting Chico State showed why it’s the No. 12-ranked team in the nation as the Wildcats rode a strong starting pitching performance and got to the Toro bullpen late to open up what was a close, hard-fought contest in coming away an 8-2 victory in the first game of Saturday’s double-header, before scoring four of their five runs in the first three innings of the nightcap to come away with 5-2 win and the twinbill sweep. With the pair of losses CSUDH falls to 13-33-1, 9-22 CCAA and the Wildcats continue to build momentum before the CCAA tournament while improving to 41-9, 22-9 CCAA.

The tough starting pitching performances from yesterday carried over into the opener of the double-header, as neither team was able to score over the first three innings.

In the bottom of the 4th, Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) stepped into the box with one out and drove a 2-0 offering deep to left center for his eighth home run of the season to give the Toros a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the 5th, Chico State’s Greg Finazzo reached first on a bunt single, and was followed by Jesus Luna who faked a bunt to draw in the third baseman, but then pulled back and hit a rocket down the third base line for a double. With Finazzo on third and Luna on second, Shane Farmer took a 1-0 offering and shot it down the right field line to bring home both runners.

After a leadoff walk to Matt Sannes (Long Beach, CA/El Camino College) in the bottom of the inning, Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.) knotted the game at 2-2 with his fourth triple of the year to the gap in right center.

The high powered Wildcat offense came alive soon after, however, scoring four runs on four hits in the top of the 8th, and two more runs on one hit and a Toro error in the top of the 9th.

CSUC starter Billy Spottiswood picked up his ninth win of the year, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out 14 batters on 118 pitches.

In the nightcap Wildcat leadoff man Robby Scott got the offense going with a double to left center, eventually scoring the game’s first run on a Toro throwing error, and then using a single to left by Carl Fairburn to extend their lead to 2-0.

After CSUC tacked on another run in the top of the 2nd, Brett Halstead (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) grounded out to the shortstop to score Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach City College) from third, after Coleman led off the inning with a double to right center.

The Wildcats added their fourth run of the game in the top of the 3rd, only to see the Toros counter with a run of their own in the bottom of the 5th on a wild pitch.

In the bottom of the 7th the Toros put runners on first and second with two out, but Wildcat reliever Marcus Martinez got his revenge after being knocked out of yesterday’s game by inducing a game ending ground ball to third.

The two teams will conclude their four-game set tomorrow, with first pitch slated for 11:00 am on Toro Field. Tomorrow will also be senior day, as CSUDH says good-bye to 11 departing seniors in Houston Hernandez, James Dodson, Gus Hernandez, Mateo Marquez, Jerit Coleman, Dustin Hicks, MurphiBennett Kennedy, Scott Moore, Michael Craig, Kyle Schneider, and Buddy McNeill.