March 11, 2006

Courtesy Chico State Sports Information Office

Box Score

Game1    Game2

CHICO - Chico State and Cal State Dominguez Hills split a California Collegiate Athletic Association baseball doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium. A classic pitching dual in game one resulted in a 2-1 Dominguez victory, but the Wildcats came back to win the nightcap by the same score.

The Wildcats stand at 18-5 overall, 7-3 in CCAA play. Cal State Dominguez Hills is now 10-12 overall, 4-6 in conference.

In the early game it turned out to be a pitching dual involving Chico's Nick Bryant and Dominguez's Chris Borchers. Borchers came on in the first inning in relief of starter Jason Garcia who pitched two-thirds of an inning before being taken out by a hard hit ball off his left knee.

Borchers (W, 3-1) settled in quickly and gave up just one run on five hits. He struck out seven and walked just one. The Wildcats managed to put just one runner in scoring position during the final six innings.

Bryant (L, 3-1) was just as impressive, going the distance for the Wildcats. Bryant gave up an unearned run in the first before retiring the next 10 straight batters and allowed one more run in the sixth. He gave up five hits, struck out eight, and walked one in the losing effort.

Offensively, neither team tore the cover off the ball. The Wildcats outhit the Toros 6-5. Dominguez's Fred Medina was the only Toro to have two hits in the game. He was 2-for-4 and scored the game-winning run, after leading off the sixth inning with a hit, when Kyle Stanley drove him in with a hit of his own.

For Chico, Mark Gentry was the only Wildcat with two hits. Jesus Luna scored the 'Cats only run, leading off the third inning with a hit to the right side and scoring on Christopher Sweeney's sacrifice fly.

In the nightcap, the Wildcats were looking to avoid a third-straight loss, but again the Dominguez pitchers had other ideas. The Wildcats were shut out for the first six innings by starter Ryan Owen, who allowed seven hits, struck out six and walked one.

In the seventh, Gentry led off the frame with a hit before reliever Dustin Gober (L, 1-1) was brought in for the Toros. Williams advanced Gentry to second and Luna drove him home with his second hit of the game for the 1-1 tie and to force extra innings.

In the eighth, Daniel Code led off the inning with a single through the left side and Jorge Arazia did his job, moving Code to second on a sacrifice bunt. Designated hitter Brandon Rauch walked and Scott, who was 0-for-7 on the day, belted the RBI walk-off single.

Wildcat starter Garrett Rieck pitched five and a third, giving up one unearned run on five hits, but it was Elliott Tyson (W, 2-0) who picked up the win. He pitched the final one and a third, allowing just two hits and striking out three.

The same two teams meet tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00.