Chargers Improve to a Five Game Lead
Wallach had 3 RBIs Thursday. |
April 20, 2006
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - With eight games remaining, Cypress would face off with second place Riverside who they just lost to two days earlier. This would be a pivotal game as Cypress could fall to just three games ahead leaving themselves vulnerable to a Riverside late season comeback. Cypress stepped up to the pressure situation and eliminated Riverside 8-1. Sophomore catcher Matt Wallach paced the Chargers with 3 RBIs off of 2 hits including a double.
The game started quickly going through three innings without a run before Riverside struck with a run in the fourth. Cypress could not seem to convert until they broke out in the fifth. Sophomore third baseman Joel Weeks got his second hit of the day with a single to center and moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman outfielder Ben Ornelas reached first on a rare strike out error by the catcher and moved Weeks to third. Freshman second baseman Eddie Agredano was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Sophomore shortstop Taylor Green drove in the first run with a single to short and was followed immediately by a sacrifice fly to right by freshman first baseman Brandon Laird to score Ornelas. Wallach drove a 2 RBI single to center to give Cypress the 4-1 lead.
Cypress held the Tigers scoreless in the sixth before earning more runs for themselves. Sophomore designated hitter Mat Miller drove a solo homerun to center, his third of the year. Sophomore reliever Wes Etheridge was in a jam with the bases loaded before forcing a ground out to second to end the inning without allowing a run.
The Chargers were not done scoring earning two more in the seventh. Taylor Green walked and scored off of a double by Wallach. Sophomore outfielder Mike Vass made it back to back doubles to score Wallach to make it 7 runs for Cypress. Cypress would get another in the eighth when sophomore outfielder Mike Evola doubled and then beat the throw home on Agredano’s RBI single for the eighth and final run for the Chargers. Sophomore left-hander Nick Rhodes earned the win going 6.1 innings and striking out 3 to improve his record to a perfect 8-0.
Saddleback will try to play spoilers next while hosting the Chargers Saturday. The Gauchos are currently third in conference. Cypress has defeated Saddleback once this year 14-3. The teams will meet up Saturday at noon at Saddleback.
