Chargers Suffer First Loss of the Season
Smith had two RBI Friday night. |
February 15th, 2008
Final Stats
Las Vegas, Nev. - The Chargers headed out to Las Vegas President’s Day weekend to face some tough out-of-state competition. Cypress started with Salt Lake City College falling behind early and unable to catch up for their first loss of the season 6-5. Cypress was led by sophomore first baseman AJ Smith who produced two RBI going two-for-four on the day.
Cypress fell behind early giving up a first inning run to the Bears. The Chargers bit back with a one-out double down the left field line from freshman left fielder Justin McGuire. McGuire was immediately brought in by sophomore right fielder Brian Burke with an RBI single to right center tying the game at one.
The tie would be brief as it fell apart in the bottom of the second. Salt Lake put up four hits in the inning producing four runs taking a 5-1 lead. Cypress tried to chip away from there with another run in the third. Sophomore center fielder Dennis Gerbasi singled to centerfield and reached second on an error from a fielder’s choice. Smith generated his first RBI single hitting one to right field for Charger run number two.
The Chargers picked up steam in the fifth. Gerbasi reached after being hit by a pitch and freshman second baseman Garrett Leon reached on a fielder’s choice. Freshman third baseman Jonathan Hurst singled to right for the RBI as Gerbasi scored. Hurst on first and Leon on third, Hurst stole second and Leon stole home in the confusion cutting the Salt Lake lead to one.
As Cypress closed in, the Bears kept the Chargers at bay with a solo homerun in the bottom of the fifth. Cypress earned another in the seventh. Leon was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a ground out. Smith hit a clutch RBI single scoring Leon and closing in again 5-6. Cypress had their last shot in the ninth. Gerbasi led off with a walk but two straight outs followed and Gerbasi was caught stealing ending the Charger hopes and dealing them their first loss.
Freshman pitcher Brent Bray came in to pitch in the second stopping the bleeding and holding the Bears to two hits and one earned run in four-and-a-third innings. Freshman left hander Matt Wolfrom suffered the loss allowing five earned runs in one-and-two-third innings with three strikeouts. Sophomore left-hander Mike Pratali closed the last two innings allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.
Cypress falls to 9-1 ending their undefeated streak. Cypress moves on to Saturday’s action where they will face Eastern Utah at 1:00 pm.
