CYPRESS, CA- The Cypress Chargers are coming off their biggest explosion on offense of the season, scoring 21 runs in a win against Merced on Friday. On Tuesday, the Chargers hosted the Grossmont Griffins and won their second consecutive game, 9-4.
Nick Bautista got the start on the mound for Cypress tossing 6.0 innings striking out 5 batters while allowing 3 walks and 3 earned runs. Luke Honikel (3-for-5, HR) was a stud on offense for Cypress as he drove in two runs and stole two bases. Nick Mascaro (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and Nathan Jackle (2-for-5, 2 RBI) both had their way on the base paths as they each stole three bags. Jackle and Matthew Oliden (1-for-3) both doubled in the game to keep the Cypress bats hot.
The Chargers found themselves in a quick 2-0 hole after the top of the first inning, but Noah Karliner (1-for-4) singled in the bottom of the first to bring Eddie Hacopian (2-for-5) around to score. Grossmont pitcher, Kyle Dobyns, kept the Chargers at bay for the next four innings, while the Griffins offense extended their lead, 3-1, in the top of the 4th inning on a sacrifice bunt. Grossmont did all they could to keep the Cypress bats down, but over the next three innings the Chargers would go on to score seven runs, including four in the 7th inning alone. Fueled behind a Honikel RBI in the fifth inning and a home run in the seventh inning, the Chargers marched on with the Griffins having zero answers for the scoring tirade. After seven innings the Chargers led 8-3. Nathan Jackle tacked on the final run for Cypress in the bottom of the eighth and Grossmont would answer with a run of their own in the top of the ninth. With the game out of reach the Chargers would hold on for a much needed victory, 9-4.
UP NEXT: The Chargers will look to continue their streak as they host Citrus College on Friday, February 25th, at 2PM.
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