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Baseball Hangs in There
Against Highly-Ranked Cal State LA; Loses 8-5 |
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Facing the 19th ranked team in Division II on the road, the CSUSM baseball team held their own, but ended up falling to Cal State L.A. by a score of 8-5. Despite the loss, the Cougars continued playing quality ball, and gave CSLA just about all they could handle on Friday. CSUSM jumped out to a 2-0 second inning lead when Tristan Gale homered for the second time in as many games, and Chuck Baird drove in a run with a single. Cougar starter David Julio held CSLA scoreless in the first two innings, but they got to him in the third. With a runner on third and 2 outs, Julio nearly survived the inning without giving up a run - but a single, walk, double, and triple pushed across 4 runs before the inning came to an end. After CSLA tacked on one more in the 4th, the Cougars got right back into the game. Terry Moritz was hit by a pitch to leadoff the fifth, and Austin Way doubled - putting two runners on base for Adam Ricciardulli. The righty crushed a home run to left field, tying the score at 5. But CSLA would pull away. They were able to manufacture two runs in the fifth, and relievers Manny Hernandez and Arturo Reyes combined to limit the Cougars to one hit over the final four innings of the contest. CSUSM's late relief was effective as well, with Lance McCormick and Kevin Dean not allowing a run. CSLA reliever John Mitchell picked up the win, while Julio took the loss. CSUSM is now 3-9 in its inaugural season, but those three wins have come in the team's last five games. Next up for the squad is a home game against Willamette College, which will be played on Sunday at Mission Bay High at noon. All fans are welcome to come out and cheer on the team! |