The Hornets took the field at home against Saddleback College on Tuesday hoping to solidify their playoff hopes. However, poor defensive play early on gave the Gauchos just enough to hold off a late surge from the Hornets offense.
Fullerton starting pitcher Dylan Prohoroff did not have his best stuff against the Gauchos, but certainly he would have given the Hornets a much needed victory were it not for some critical mistakes by the defense behind him.
The Hornets entered the fifth inning trailing by one run and Prohoroff looked to be in control, retiring the first two batters quickly. However, with two outs his defense began to unravel.
Catcher Jeffrey Murray dropped a routine pop up just a couple feet from home plate extending the inning. The next batter Dylan Diaz singled, leaving runners on first and third. A few seconds later, Murray fired the ball over third base in a failed pick-off attempt allowing Diaz to score. The Gauchos added one more run on a single by Brett Barker making the score 3-0.
Through the eight innings, the Hornets offense could only muster four hits off of Gauchos starter Cameron Aufderheide.
With a four run cushion, Aufderheide entered the ninth hoping for a complete game. The Hornets bats started to heat up and they would not go quietly.
After a single by pinch hitter Brett Halasz, DH Shane Carrier stepped to the plate and launched is second home run of the season. Aufderheide hit the next batter David Miranda, forcing the Gauchos to bring in John Sheaks to close out the game. After a walk to Anthony Seminaris, second baseman Laine Huffman singled, bringing Miranda home. With Seminaris standing on third representing the tying run, shortstop Justin Row struck out swinging to bring an end to the rally and the game.
Aufderheide picked up his sixth win of the season (6-0), going 8.1 innings, striking out three and allowing three earned.
Prohoroff picked up his third loss of the season (8-3), going seven innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out two.
“We are going to look back and say, ‘we let that one get away,’ because we weren’t tough enough or committed enough,” said head coach Nick Fuscardo. “We are going to stay home if we don’t get better and have a couple good games in the next week.”
This loss drops the Hornets to (9-8) in OEC play and puts them in a difficult position as they are now on the bubble to make the playoffs. With four games remaining, the Hornets will need to win at least two to make it to postseason play.
Next up the Hornets will look to rebound with back to back games against Riverside college. Thursday they will travel to RCC, but Friday they will be back at home taking on the Tigers (7-10) at 2 p.m.
