Cypress Pulls it Off to Move on to Move on to Round Two
Nesbitt finished the series with five RBI. |
May 10, 2008
Final Stats
Santa Clarita, Calif. - Cypress battled to force a game three situation Saturday against Canyons to determine who moves on to the Super Regionals and who will end their season. The Chargers came through again in a clutch situation winning their second straight game over the Cougars 11-9 to earn an invitation to the Super Regionals. Sophomore left fielder Michael Nesbitt capped off a big day with three RBI going three for five with a homerun and two runs scored. Nesbitt had five RBI over the day with two homeruns.
The Chargers kept their momentum from game two going as they sprinted out to the lead in the first. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Marmion led the game off with a single to left followed by Nesbitt’s two run homerun. Hurst hit a back-to-back homerun again with a solo homerun for the 3-0 lead. Cypress took back to back doubles in the second for their fourth run. Sophomore center fielder Dennis Gerbasi started the two out rally with a double to left. Marmion followed with a double to left center scoring Gerbasi for the 4-0 lead.
Canyons fought back with a six run inning in the third as Cypress’s lead evaporated and the Cougars took over. After being silenced for two innings, the Chargers picked up the pace in the fifth. Gerbasi led off with an infield single and moved to second on an error. Marmion drove in Gerbasi again, this time with a single to right center. Nesbitt followed with a single to left center scoring Marmion to tie the game at six. Sophomore right fielder Brian Burke would not let it end there as he hit a two run homerun taking the lead back 8-6.
The Cougars jabbed back with a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Charger lead to one. Cypress piled on three more in the seventh. Hurst walked and was followed by freshman right fielder Tyler Brady who was hit by a pitch. Freshman pinch hitter Justin McGuire walked next to load the bases. Freshman catcher Parker Berberet would not leave them there hitting a two RBI single down the right field line scoring Hurst and Brady. Freshman third baseman Erik Hempe hit into an error next allowing McGuire to score.
Canyons would not fold scoring two in the eighth to come within two. They had their last shot in the bottom of the ninth but freshman pitcher Richard Hanson shut the door retiring three straight to seal the win.
Sophomore pitcher AJ Smith started the game pitching 2.1 innings allowing five earned runs on six hits and one walk. Freshman Thomas Hoenshell earned the win to improve to 4-1 pitching 3.2 innings in relief allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks while striking out one. Hanson earned the save pitching the final three innings allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out two.
Cypress improves to 29-17 and move on to the Super Regional round. The Chargers will head to Cuesta where they will play a double elimination tournament for the right to move on to the final four. The Cuesta site will include Cuesta, Cypress, Orange Coast, and Riverside, three Orange Empire Conference teams. Cypress is 5-4 against teams in their bracket. The Chargers will face off with Orange Coast first. Orange Coast reached the Super Regionals via a sweep over Long Beach in the first round. Cypress is 1-2 against the Pirates so far this season. Cypress lost two games within one run while their win was 11-5 at home. The two face off Friday at Cuesta.
