April 6, 2006

Box Score

Carson, CA – Senior southpaw Ryan Owen (Riverside, CA/West Torrance HS) paced the Toros on the mound, taking a no-hitter through 4.2 innings as CSUDH beat the NAIA's No. 2-ranked Cal Baptist Lancers, 8-1. With the victory, the Toros have won nine of their last 11 games, and improve to 15-13 on the season, while Cal Baptist saw its three-game winning streak halted, falling to 32-5.

Even a weekend of rained out baseball could not slow the hot Toro offense as CSUDH scored eight runs over the first four innings of play.

Leadoff man Fred Medina (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS) slapped a single to center field to begin the game, and the Toros just took off from there. Jason Klug (Moreno Valley, CA/San Bernardino Valley College) and Isidro Perez (South Gate, CA/LA Harbor College) would use RBI ground outs to drive in both of the Toros two runs in their first at-bat.

Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS) would keep the momentum going in the 2nd, leading off the inning with a base hit to right field. After an ensuing walk to Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS), a strikeout, a walk to Medina and a Lancer fielding error, the Toros placed runners on second and third with one out. Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) would lay down a perfect squeeze bunt, allowing Puckett to score from third and extending the Toro lead to 3-0.

CSUDH would tack on two runs in the 3rd and three more in the 4th to stretch its lead to 8-0, which would be more than enough for Owen.

Owen would retire the first 11 batters he faced before a fielding error allowed the first CBU runner to reach base with two outs in the top of the 4th, breaking up the perfect game. The lefty would be not be phased by the error, however, as he fanned the next batter to end the inning.

The Lancers would get their first hit of the afternoon with two outs in the 5th when Bridger Clark laced a ball to center field. Kyle Thomas would follow with a single of his own, but Owen would induce an inning ending ground ball by the next batter to end the threat.

Lancer reliever Cory Wells would cool the Toro offense, tossing 3.2 innings, allowing no runs and no hits.

Cal Baptist would end the string of zeros on the scoreboard in the top of the 8th when Gabe Mayorga took a 2-2 offering from Owen and blasted it over the fence in left center field to spoil the shutout.

Lancer starter Aaron Hartsock would suffer the loss, lasting only 2.2 innings, while allowing five runs (only two earned) on four hits, striking out three.

Owen would throw 8.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits with seven Ks against no walks to pick up his third win of the year (3-2).

Hunter would lead the offense gong 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Klug would extend his hitting streak to 15-games, chipping in one baseknock and two RBIs while Medina added two hits and a walk in the convincing win.

The Toros will next be in action tomorrow as they take on Grand Canyon University in a non-conference contest, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Toro Field.