Marathon Game Ends in a One Run Loss
Hanson pitched seven innings Thursday afternoon. |
April 24, 2008
Final Stats
Costa Mesa, Calif. - Cypress was riding a four game win streak going into Thursday’s game and were hoping for another to pull into third in conference. The Chargers were mired in a defensive dog fight that ended in an unearned run in the bottom of the tenth to lose 3-2 to Orange Coast. Freshman pitcher Richard Hanson pitched the first seven innings plugging away allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out two.
The pace started quickly with a run for each team in the first. Cypress started it off as Charger lead-off man, sophomore center fielder Dennis Gerbasi was hit by a pitch to reach first. Gerbasi was thrown out as freshman left fielder Jonathan Hurst reached on a fielder’s choice. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Marmion was also hit by a pitch moving Hurst to second. Sophomore right fielder Brian Burke hit into an error allowing Hurst to score the unearned run for the brief 1-0 lead. The Pirates ended the lead with their first batter in a solo homerun.
Cypress bats were silenced as the Chargers generated just three hits over the next five innings. In the bottom of the sixth, the Pirates took the lead off two hits and a sacrifice bunt. Behind one, Cypress came through in the top of the seventh. Sophomore designated hitter Michael Nesbitt led off with a single to center and moved to second on a single to right by freshman catcher Parker Berberet. Sophomore first baseman AJ Smith finished it off with a third straight single scoring Nesbitt and tying the game at 2-2.
With both teams unable to score through nine innings, the game headed into the extra innings. Cypress put a man on third with just one out retired until the Pirates executed a doubled play ending Cypress’s bid to gain the lead. The bottom of the tenth was fatal for Cypress allowing a single, a sacrifice bunt and then an error bringing home the winning Pirate run.
Sophomore right hander Jarrett Semler suffered the loss falling to 1-1 on the season. He allowed no earned runs on two hits and two walks in 2.2 innings pitched.
Cypress falls to 24-15 and 9-8 in conference. The Chargers must recover quickly as they start their series against first place Santa Ana Saturday. Cypress has lost 3-2 to the rival Dons earlier this season. The two meet up in their second of three games this season Saturday at noon at Santa Ana.
