CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College baseball team opened the 2019 season with back-to-back home games on Friday and Saturday. The Chargers, who entered the year ranked No. 5 in Southern California, picked up a 21-2 victory against the Compton Tartars on Friday, followed by a 4-3 loss to Chaffey College on Saturday.
Cypress vs. Compton, W 21-2
Sophomore Eric Chavarria (W, 1-0) got the start and the win in the Chargers' season opener against the Compton Tartars. Chavarria pitched 4 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits with 5 strikeouts. Compton's Andy Rosales (L, 0-1) received the start and the loss. Rosales allowed 4 runs on 6 hits.
A leadoff bunt from center fielder, Jesse Lopez (2-for-3, 3RBI), got the Chargers on base early. A double to center field from first baseman, Trevor Jones (1-for-2, 2RBI), brought in Lopez for the Chargers' first run of the season. Sophomore Eric Bigani (2-for-3, 3RBI) drilled a double to left field, scoring Jones and giving Cypress a 2-0 lead.
The Tartars added a run in the fourth, but it would not be enough to shake the Chargers. Cypress added 2 more runs in the third, before putting together a 9-run rally in the bottom of the fourth, with hits from Trevor Windisch (1-for-3), Mariano Ricciardi (3-for-4), Jones, Jack Gardener (2-for-4, 2RBI), and Bigani. The Chargers capped off the inning with two homeruns, one from Hayden Winters (2-for-3, 3RBI) and one from Lopez, to put the game out of reach.
Cypress vs. Chaffey, L 4-3
Sophomore Adrian Chaidez got the start for the Chargers on Saturday, facing 17 batters through 3.2 innings of work. Chaidez allowed 2 runs on 3 hits, while collecting 6 strikeouts. Sophomore Reid Sebby (L, 0-1) received the loss in 2.1 innings of relief, allowing 1 run on 3 hits.
The Panthers got on the board first with a run in the top of the second before Cypress left fielder Isaiah Stewart (1-for-4, RBI) tied the game with an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the third.
Chaffey's Jacob Martin responded with a solo homerun to right center field in the fourth and Eddie Pietschmann added another solo shot in the fifth, giving the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
The Chargers got back on the board after three scoreless innings in the bottom of the seventh. Rafael Flores (1-for-2, RBI) hit an RBI single to center field before sophomore Aaron Halpert (1-for-2, RBI) would tie the game at 3-3 with an RBI triple down the left field line.
Despite their effort, the Chargers could not hold the Panthers scoreless in the ninth, allowing an ultimately game winning two-out RBI single in the ninth, falling to Chaffey, 4-3.
Chargers resume play at home, Wednesday, January 30, against the San Bernardino Valley Wolverines at 1:45pm.
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