CYPRESS, CA- Chargers baseball (10-8, 2-0 OEC) hosted the Santa Ana Dons (15-3-1, 0-2 OEC) in the second game of a three game series on Thursday afternoon. The Chargers came out victorious yet again with the help of a late home run by Luke Honikel. Cypress defeated the Dons 7-6.
Luke Honikel (2-for-4, HR) was the hero of the afternoon as he tallied 3 RBI's and a walk. Brenden Harris (3-for-4) continued to get on base as he pushed his average up to .447 on the season. Ryan White (2-for-3, 1 RBI, BB) and Dean Toigo (2-for-4, 1 RBI) each doubled for the Chargers. Trey Seeley (5.0 IP) was dominant on the mound for Cypress striking out 4 batters while allowing 2 runs. Nick Bautista got his first first save of the season after shutting out the Dons in the 9th inning.
Ryan White knocked in the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning scoring Brenden Harris and putting Cypress up 1-0. The Chargers added one run in the third inning and two in the fourth to take a commanding 4-0 lead. The Dons bats woke up in the fifth inning as they cut their deficet in half. Santa Ana would continue their scoring run in both the sixth and seventh innings taking a 6-4 lead.
The Chargers would rally in the eighth inning as Dean Toigo started it off with a single. After an Eddie Hacopian walk, Honikel came to the plate with runners on first and second. The base runners could take their time around the bases as Honikel launched a three-run homer over the right field wall to put Cypress up 7-6 heading to the ninth inning.
Santa Ana was a threat in the ninth as the first two batters reached base via the walk. Cedrick Perez of Santa Ana singled to right field and the Dons sent the runner from second base to score the tying run. Cypress right fielder, Dean Toigo, had other plans as he hosed the runner down at the plate and swung the momentum back into the Chargers favor. Cypress would make the final two outs and hold on for the victory 7-6.
UP NEXT: The series finale between Cypress and Santa Ana will be on Saturday at 12pm. The Chargers will be back on the Dons home turf as they look for a series sweep.
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on Twitter @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers
