Serving the Fullerton Community Since 1922

The Hornet

The Hornet

Serving the Fullerton Community Since 1922

The Hornet

Hornets bounced back to swarm past the Coyotes

Yesterday’s victory was a huge win for Hornets baseball (4-9) as they beat the red-hot Cerro Coso Coyotes (12-2).

The Hornets coming off a tough loss to Pasadena rebounded in a big way in their huge 3-6 win ending the Coyote’s 9-win streak.

Hornet sophomore pitcher Taed Heydinger’s first pitch of the game was a ball that led to a leadoff walk for the Coyotes. Heydinger followed the at-bat by giving up a one-run double. The top of the first inning would end with the Coyotes up 2-0.

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Hornet sophomore pitcher Taed Heydinger pitched six innings in the Hornets victory against Cerro Coso on Thursday, Feb. 28. Photo credit: Bovie Lavong

Fullerton started the bottom of the first with a leadoff single by second baseman PJ Gordon. The Hornets compiled 3 more hits which led to a 3-run inning that gave them the 3-2 lead. The inning ended when Hornets sophomore Richard Canales struck out.

Heydinger settled in during the second inning only allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and no runs over the next two innings.

Cerro Coso strung together a couple of walks and a single that led to the game-tying run at 3-3. Heydinger left runners stranded on 2nd and 3rd when he stuck out the opposing batter.

The bottom of the 4th inning belonged to Fullerton as they scored 2 runs to retake the lead 5-3 over Cerro Coso.

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Hornet sophomore outfielder Eddie Ureno doubled to left center driving in an RBI for the Hornets victory against Cerro Coso on Thursday, Feb. 28. Photo credit: Bovie Lavong

Heydinger hurled two more innings of scoreless ball finishing the day with 6 innings pitched 3 earned runs and 4 hits with 101 pitches earning the win.

“They’re a good team but we’re a good team too. I don’t think it’s anything too surprising for us. We all feel like we should be here and we can compete, so while it’s a good team win and all that kind of stuff were just going to get back to work. It’s not too high for us or anything like that,” Taed Heydinger reflected.

At the top of the 7th inning, sophomore Connor Tousignant came on in relief. This was Tousignant’s first game back since February 15, after recovering from his injury.

Pitcher
Hornet sophomore pitcher Taed Heydinger struck out five batters in the Hornets victory against Cerro Coso on Thursday, Feb. 28. Photo credit: Bovie Lavong

Tousignant looked strong in his first outing back striking out the first batter he faced. After issuing a double, Connor lost command and issued a walked. However, the runner on 2nd base decided to attempt to steal 3rd and was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Hornet’s added on to their lead in the bottom of the 7th after a sac-fly to right field to make the score 6-3. Tousignant kept the Coyotes scoreless for the remainder of the game. Tousignant’s final line was 4 innings pitched, no earned runs and 4 strikeouts.

After the game, the two starting pitchers seemed very confident in their ability to play in these big games against the big teams and both echoed this sentiment, “We are all playing for each other right now,” Heydinger said.

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Before going up for his at-bat, Hornet outfielder Richard Canales touches the jersey of injured teammate Josh Sanchez against Cerro Coso on Thursday, Feb. 28. Photo credit: Bovie Lavong

“Adversity, we lost a brother. As a team, they have to learn how to recover from that and they did really well today,” Fullerton head coach Nick Fuscardo commented on what this win means for the team going forward.

Fuscardo was referring to sophomore outfielder Josh Sanchez who was injured in Saturday’s game.

Next game for the Hornets: Home game on Mar. 5 against Saddleback Gauchos (10-5) at 2 pm.