Cypress Defeats Themselves in Conference Opening Loss
McGuire drove in Cypress’s only run. |
March 4, 2008
Final Stats
Irvine, Calif. - Cypress opened 2008 Orange Empire Conference play Wednesday against Irvine Valley on the road. The Chargers held a slim lead but gave it up late in a 4-1 loss missing several ripe opportunities stranding ten base runners. All four IVC runs were unearned off of four costly Cypress errors. Freshman designated hitter Justin McGuire drove in Cypress’s only run going two for five on the day.
The Chargers started by stranding a runner in the first and followed by stranding runners on first and second in the third. Cypress got one home in the fifth with a two-out rally. Sophomore centerfielder Dennis Gerbasi was hit by a pitch. McGuire’s single deep to left was enough to let Gerbasi motor home for Cypress’s only run. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Marmion followed up with another single but both runners were stranded as the scoring ended there.
Cypress had a good chance in the sixth starting with a lead-off double from freshman right fielder Jonathan Hurst. With freshman Tyler Brady in to pinch run, he was stranded on third holding Cypress to one. The Chargers continued in the seventh stranding a runner on second before IVC got their rally going. Cypress committed two errors in the seventh giving the Lasers their first run of the game and then their second giving them the lead.
The Chargers had a chance to take back the lead with two runners on but stranded them again in another lost opportunity. IVC put up two insurance runs in the eighth off of two more Charger errors for the 4-1 lead. Cypress had their last shot in the top of the ninth. Sophomore pinch hitter Brian Burke came off the bench to double but was left there.
Sophomore pitcher Alex Curry suffered his first loss of the year falling to 3-1. He allowed no earned runs in 7.1 innings striking out three and allowing eight hits. Freshman Thomas Hoenshell closed facing the last two batters striking out one.
Cypress falls to 14-5 and 0-1 in conference. They have a chance to redeem themselves Thursday in a second meeting with Saddleback. Saddleback is coming off of a 7-1 loss to Santa Ana in their conference opener. The last time Cypress and Saddleback met, the Chargers won in 8-1 in the final round of the OEC Mini-Tournament. Cypress will try to replicate the win Thursday at home at 2:00 pm.
