CYPRESS, CA – March Madness, usually reserved for the hardwood, made its way to the Cypress College baseball field on Thursday afternoon, as the No. 7 Chargers took game two of their series over No. 5 Orange Coast in walk-off fashion, 9-8.
The Pirates took a two-run lead over the Chargers after rallying to score four runs in the top of the eighth inning. Orange Coast turned to reliever Josh Berman (L, 1-1), who took the mound in the bottom of the eighth.
Jesse Lopez (2-for-4, 4 RBI) led off the inning with a triple off the center field wall, before the Chargers loaded the bases on back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded and one out, Aaron Simpson (1-for-2, RBI) walked in a run, making it a one-run game. Dominic Campeau (2-for-5, RBI) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Greg Lamb (1-for-2) from third for the game-tying run.
Cypress reliever Daniel Foret (W, 2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to put the Chargers in position to win the game.
Sophomore infielder Pierson Loska (2-for-5, HR) led off the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot over the right field wall, ending both the Pirates' six-game winning streak and the Chargers' three-game skid, with a swing of the bat.
Cypress and Orange Coast will play the third and final game of their series on Saturday at Wendell Pickens Field on the campus of Orange Coast College. First pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.
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