Cypress, CA -- The Chargers went up against Riverside Thursday afternoon and managed to come away on top after a huge offensive inning in the 8th, which produced 9 runs, to win, 15-9.
Getting the start on the mound for the Chargers was Matt Esparza who pitched 5 1/3 innings with 6 strikeouts.
Cypress went up 1-0 in the 2nd inning off a Trevor Meleski home run over the centerfield wall.
In the 3rd inning, Matt Tietz scored from third base off a wild pitch by Riverside to put the Chargers up, 2-0.
In the top of the 5th Riverside drove in two runs to tie-up the game at 2-2, but Joe Duffin answered right back in the bottom of the 5th with a double that brought in Brandon Morones from third and Matt Tietz from second to put Cypress back on top, 4-2.
Riverside brought in a run in the top of the sixth, but Cypress also brought in two runs on a bases loaded walk by Jack Flansburg which scored Brandon Brintz from third and a Duffin sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jacob Perry to make it 6-3 Cypress.
Riverside then tied things up at 6-6 in the top of the 6th after three Tigers scored. They then went on to take the lead, 7-6 after bringin in a run during the top of the 8th.
Cypress would not let the game go easily though and in the bottom of the eight they tied it up at 7-7 when Tietz doubled to bring in Morones from first base. Then two walked batters later and with the bases loaded, Kramer Ferrell hit a deep triple over the center fielders head that scored Tietz, Flansburg and Duffin. The damage was far from over at that point, however. Tyler Gnesda would come into the game and hit a single to score Ferrell. Joe Van Marter then doubled to advance Gnesda to third where he would score on a passed ball by the Tigers catcher. Jacob Perry then singled to score Van Marter. Two Charger batters later Flansburg was safe on first after a fielders choice that scored Perry and Jonny Miller. By the end of the inning Cypress led 15-7.
Riverside did manage to bring in two runs in the top of the 9th, but were unable to overcome the nine runs by the Chargers in the 8th and fell by the final score of 15-9.
Payton Lobdell came into relieve Esparza in the 6th and threw 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts before being replaced by Nathan Kuchta in the top of the 8th. Kuchta is credited with the win and improves to 2-1 on the season.
The Chargers overall record now stands at 15-10, while they are 6-6 in conference. Both teams will face off again tomorrow (3/28) at Charger Field at 2pm.
