CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College baseball team (22-9, 10-6 OEC) defeated the Santa Ana Dons 4-3 (17-14, 5-11 OEC) in game one of their three-game series on Tuesday.
Tylor Megill (9-0) remains undefeated at the mound for Cypress this season. Megill gave up five hits and zero earned runs, while collecting seven strikeouts in 8.2 innings. Andrew Quezada collected his second save of the season. Santa Ana pitcher Andrew Hodges (4-5) received the loss after allowing eight hits and four runs in 5.1 innings of work.
The Chargers took an early lead after a two-out rally in the bottom of the first. Willie Aguilar (1-for-3) got it going with a hard hit single to center field. Elijah Skipps (2-for-3) followed that up with a double to center field. Aguilar scored after a wild pitch from Hodges and Skipps advanced to third base. Nick Reeser (2-for-3) hit an RBI single to score Skipps, giving Cypress a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Skipps drilled a solo shot over the right field wall for his team leading sixth home run of the season. With the bases loaded and one out Derek Reilly (1-for-3) reached first on a fielder's choice allowing John Zanze (0-for-1) to score, giving the Chargers a 4-0 lead.
The Dons got on the board in the top of the seventh. Jeff Murray (0-for-2) got on base after he was hit by a pitch from Megill. Murray then advanced to second on a passed ball. Andrew Ramos (1-for-4) followed that up with a single to right field advancing Murray to third base. As Ramos went to steal second base, Reilly mishandled the throw from catcher Nate Rodriguez, allowing Murray to score.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Santa Ana made it interesting with a two-out rally. Andrew Natividad (1-for-4) reached second on an error by the right fielder to score Murray. Thomas Blood (2-for-4) followed that up with an RBI single to right field, making it a one run game.
Clinging to a 4-3, lead the Chargers brought Quezada to the mound with the tying run on first. Quezada forced a groundout to earn the save and seal the win for Cypress.
The Chargers will travel to Santa Ana for game two on Thursday, April 21st at 2:00 pm.
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