Chargers Survive Fifth Straight
Smith had two doubles Tuesday afternoon. |
February 5, 2008
Final Stats
Cypress, Calif. - Cypress returned for their second home game of the season Tuesday hosting Cuesta College. After two straight blowouts, the Chargers were challenged this time around surviving a seventh inning scare for the 6-4 win. Sophomore first baseman AJ Smith led Cypress at the plate going three-for-three including two doubles and two runs scored. Sophomore right-hander Jarrett Semler picked up his second save of the year getting Cypress out of the seventh inning jam pitching the last three innings with four strikeouts.
Errors were scattered through the first inning as Cypress slipped up to start the game. The Chargers produced two relatively pedestrian outs before two straight infield errors allowed two unearned Cougar runs giving Cuesta the early lead. Cypress matched the two in the bottom of the first. Freshman catcher Jonathan Hurst started the action with a double to right. Smith followed up with another double scoring Hurst. Sophomore right fielder Brian Burke made it three hits in a row with a single up the middle scoring Smith and evening the score.
Cypress had their biggest inning in the second with a two-out rally. Freshman leftfielder Garrett Leon kicked off the rally with a double down the left field line. Hurst produced his second hit in as many at-bats with a single up the middle scoring Leon. Smith walked and Burke singled to load the bases. Sophomore designated hitter Luis Diaz would not leave them stranded singling through the right side for two RBI as Hurst and Smith scored giving Cypress the 5-2 lead.
The Charger defense held steady and Cypress scored their final run in the fifth. Sophomore third baseman Jordan Lowe singled to right and moved to second on a ground out. Freshman second baseman Erik Hempe followed with a single to center scoring Lowe and giving Cypress a commanding 6-2 lead.
Cypress’s comfortable lead shrunk uncomfortably in the seventh. Three straight walks loaded the bases putting Cuesta’s tying run at bat. Semler came in to relieve with the save on the line. A ground out RBI and a single let Cuesta come closer with two more runs but Semler struck out the last out swinging to end the seventh inning threat. Semler retired the next three batters in a row and allowed just one more hit to hold the score and earn the save. Sophomore pitcher Dale Harder earned the win pitching the first five-and-a-third innings allowing just four hits and no earned runs.
The Chargers improve to 5-0 and have just a day off to prepare for Porterville. The two meet up Thursday at 2:00 pm at Cypress.
