BASEBALL: HORNETS TOP CHARGERS IN REGIONALS

It took a total of two games and 25 innings, but the Hornets did what they had to do against Cypress College to advance in the SoCal Regionals.

In game one on Friday, #12 Fullerton (23-15) traveled to #5 Cypress (25-13) and held off the Chargers 6-5. FC took a 3-0 lead by the top of the second inning, and then they added to it by scoring two more runs in the fourth. Up 5-0 heading into the fifth, Cypress did not pack it in as they fought their way back into the game scoring a run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to make a ball 6-4 game (FC scored a run in the sixth).

FC starting pitcher Dylan Prohoroff held strong for 8.2 innings to grab his 10th win on the season. He allowed 4 earned runs on 7 hits with 3 K's and 3 walks. Reliever Jake Lyons earned the save locking down the last out of the game.

On Saturday, the Hornets took Cypress' field as the home team for a game that went 16 total innings (over four and a half hours).

The game remained scoreless for the first three innings, until Cypress exploded for 3 runs in the top of the fourth. A double by 2B Jackson Willeford got in started scoring SS Jack Flansburg. A couple of singles by 1B Tyler Gnesda and LF Brandon Brintz scored two more runs.

The Hornets tied up the game 3-3 in the sixth with an offensive explosion of their own. 3B Trent Hammond's double knocked in 1B Oscar Heredia and SS Justin Row. Catcher Jeff Murray matched Hammond's double bringing Shane Carrier across home plate.

The game would remain tied until the top of the fourteenth when the Chargers dropped two runs on the Hornets on a double by catcher John Santospago that scored Willeford and Flansburg.

Down 5-3 with one out in the bottom of the fourteenth, the Hornets had their backs up against the wall, until Heredia stepped up to the plate and blasted a two-run shot scoring Laine Huffman to tie the game up at 5 apiece. 

In the bottom of the sixteenth with one out, FC won the game on a sacrifice fly to center field by RF Marco Rivera scoring DH Austin Obanion.

Hornet starting pitcher Kyle Lazcano took the no-decision throwing 4 innings while allowing only 4 hits, 3 earned runs, 3 strikeouts, and a walk. Reliever Ryon Martinez went 2.2 innings with no runs on two hits, 1 K, and 2 walks. Nico Castaneda threw 6.1 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 6 hits, with 3 K's, and 3 walks. Parker Merrit threw 3 solid innings allowing only 1 hit to earn the win.

Up Next: The Hornets will play at #3 Santa Barbara City College (30-8) May 8-10 in a best two-out-of-three series in Round 2 of the SoCal Super Regionals. Game one will be Friday, May 8th at 2:00 pm.