MISSION VIEJO, CA – The Cypress College baseball team (17-6, 2-4 OEC) took game three over the Gauchos of Saddleback College (13-8, 3-3 OEC) on Saturday, 5-1. The victory secured the Chargers a series win, 2-1.
Starting on the mound for the Chargers was sophomore right-handed pitcher, Adrian Chaidez (W, 5-0). Chaidez threw 6 innings, facing 23 batters, only allowing 3 hits and 1 run. Freshman right-handed pitcher, Raul Herrada (Sv, 1) entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, relieving Chaidez to earn his first save of the season. Herrada pitched 3 shutout innings, while allowing just 1 hit.
The Chargers got things going in the second inning when first baseman, Cory Moore (1-for-3, 2RBI) homered to right field with Eric Bigani (2-for-4) on base, who singled to center field, giving the Chargers a 2-0 lead.
The Gauchos earned their first run in the bottom of the sixth inning, with a homerun to left field from Ryan Thilbert. However, Cypress would answer with another run in the seventh. Bobby Silvis (3-for-4, 2RBI) drilled a double down right field line before Isaiah Stewart (1-for-4, RBI) followed up with an RBI double down the line to score Silvis and extend the lead to 3-1.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, second baseman Mariano Ricciardi (1-for-4) stepped up to the plate with Silvis on deck. Ricciardi slapped a single to left field, before Silvas extended the lead with a two-run homer right field. The Charger defense would hold strong behind the arm of Herrada, turning a double-play, and then ending the game on a fly out to take the series.
No. 7 Cypress baseball will look to capture another OEC best-of-three series against No. 17 Santa Ana College. Schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Tuesday 3/19 @ Santa Ana | 2:00pm
Game 2 – Thursday 3/21 vs. Santa Ana | 2:00pm
Game 3 – Friday 3/22 @ Santa Ana | 2:00pm
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