April 8, 2006

Box Score

Game1    Game2

Carson, CA – Isidro Perez (South Gate, CA/LA Harbor College) provided the muscle in the nightcap, launching a two-run home run to give the Toros the lead and eventually the win, 4-2 over visiting Grand Canyon University Saturday in non-conference baseball. Earlier, reliever Gary Scott (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) provided two shutout innings of relief in the opener to earn his third save of the year as CSUDH won 8-6.

The Toros completed the home series sweep and have won five in a row and 12 of their last 14 to improve to 18-13 on the season. With the pair of losses, the 'Lopes have lost five of their last six and fall to 15-20.

The opening see-saw battle began quickly, with the 'Lopes starting the game with three-straight singles by Craig Daniel, Jacob Hanna, and Matt Michael to go up 1-0. GCU would tack on another run on an RBI ground out before a triple by Matt Henne past a diving Toro outfielder gave GCU a quick 3-0 advantage.

The Toro offense that pounded out eight runs on 11 hits yesterday would still be potent. After a single and a stolen base by Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) and a walk to Kyle Stanley (Buena Park, CA/Hawaii Pacific), Perez would lace a double to right center, driving in both runners and cutting the lead to 3-2.

The Toro offense would keep in going in the bottom of the 2nd, scoring two runs and taking the lead from the 'Lopes.

After be roughed up in the 1st, Toro starter Chris Borchers (Torrance, CA/LA Harbor College) would settle into a groove, allowing no hits in each of the next two innings.

The 'Lopes would continue to fight back, leading off the 4th with four straight singles to knot the game at 4-4 before a sacrifice fly to right field by Hanna recaptured the lead for GCU.

CSUDH would not let the offensive challenge go unanswered for long. In Toro half of the 4th, Hernandez's sacrifice fly would tie the game, and a 2RBI single by Jason Klug (Moreno Valley, CA/San Bernardino Valley College) would put the Toros up for good at 7-5.

The Lopes would add a run in the top of the 5th, which the Toros would counter in the bottom of the 6th.

Scott would start the 6th on the mound for the Toros and slam the door shut on any comeback hopes for the 'Lopes, tossing 2.0 innings, allowing only one hit to pick up his third save of the year.

GCU starter Josiah Ziegler would receive the loss, tossing 3.0 innings, allowing six runs on five hits while walking four batters, while Daniel and Michael would lead the'Lopes offense at the plate, each with a pair of hits and an RBI.

Borchers would pick up his team leading fifth win of the season, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing six runs on nine hits while recording five strikeouts, and would be bolstered by Fred Medina (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS), who would record three hits in the opener, and Klug and Perez, who each had two RBIs.

In the nightcap, an RBI single by A.J. Gomez (Playa del Rey/LA Harbor College) in the bottom of the 2nd would get the Toros out to the early 1-0 lead.

The 'Lopes would answer the Toros' run in the top of the 3rd, capitalizing on a defensive error, allowing them to reach base safely. Cody Johns would take advantage with a RBI singling to right field to knot the game at 1-1.

GCU would grab its first lead of the game in the top of the 5th, scoring on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Perez's heroics.

In bottom of the 6th, Klug would lead off with a single to left, and Perez would follow by blasting a 2-1 pitch over the fence in right center field to recapture the lead for the Toros.

Lopes starter Patrick Lawler would receive the loss, tossing 5.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits.

Sophomore Matt Hopps (Torrance, CA/South HS) would win his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out four in 6.0 innings of work. Reliever Gus Hernandez (Lynwood, CA/Lynwood HS) would record his first save of the year, striking out the last batter of the game with runners on first and second.

In addition to Perez's two RBIs, Klug would be 3-for-3 and H.Hernandez would chip in two hits.

The Toros return to action next Thursday, April 13, when they travel to Cal State San Bernardino for game one of a four-game series, before returning home on Saturday, April 15 for a double-header to conclude the series with the Coyotes, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Toro Field