CYPRESS, CA – The Cypress College baseball team (16-6, 1-4 OEC) evened the series with Saddleback College (13-7, 3-2 OEC) in walk-off fashion at home on Thursday, ending an uncharacteristic four-game losing streak, 6-5.
In the bottom of the eleventh inning, with the game tied 5-5, the Chargers got going with an Eric Bigani (0-for-4) walk. Jack Gardner (1-for-5) followed with a hard-hit single to right field, forcing a Gauchos pitching change with nobody out.
McKay Dowdell (1-for-1) slapped another single past the outreached glove of Saddleback's third baseman to load the bases. After a Matt Kirk (1-for-3) fly out, Mariano Ricciardi (2-for-5, RBI) would drive in pinch runner Frankie Islas for the game winning run on a bases loaded bunt.
Sophomore Eric Chavarria (W, 5-2) received the win in relief for Cypress after tossing three shutout innings, while allowing just one hit with one strikeout.
The Chargers will look to pick up another win in Saturday's rubber game at Saddleback College. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00pm.
FINAL ⚾️: Cypress 6, @SCGauchos 5
— Cypress Chargers (@CYPRESSChargers) March 15, 2019
Chargers even series with Saddleback on bases loaded walk-off bunt from Mariano Ricciardi in the 11th inning!
Eric Chavarria: (W, 5-2) 1H, 1K, 3IP
Mariano Ricciardi: 2-for-5, RBI
Isaiah Parra: 1-for-6, 2RBI#CypCity pic.twitter.com/SkZJGiyiW4
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