Originally written for publishing on February 28, 2013.
The Fullerton College baseball team knocked off the Compton College Tartars 11-6, this past Tuesday. The Hornets wasted no time getting the offense going and paced themselves to an easy win.
The Hornets (8-4) came out of the gate scorching hot, taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff batter Dakota Wix began the game with a walk, then proceeded to steal second base. The steal gives him 11 in the first 12 games this season. Two batters later, Uriel Salinas singled to drive in Wix.
Later in the inning, Garret Donohoe and Troy Mulcahey had back to back RBI singles. Derreck Garcia followed, and ended the barrage with a two-run double.
Tartar pitcher Nick Sanchez got roughed up by the Hornet lineup. He only lasted a third of an inning, giving up six runs.
Charles Cantrell came into the game in relief, but did not fare much better. He lasted 3.2 innings, but gave up another five runs.
The last two pitchers for Compton, Taylor Grisham and Ricci Sergienko, combined for four shutout innings, but the damage was already done.
Mulcahey added a RBI double in the third inning, and was an offensive highlight this game. He finished 2-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Juan Berumen was the winning pitcher for Fullerton. He picked up his first win of the year, going five innings, while striking out six and only giving up one run.
Fullerton’s bullpen was the only problem they had in the game. After Berumen came out, the Hornet bullpen gave up five runs in four innings.
Kyle Ritter pitched the sixth inning and gave up two runs. Daniel Tessone then came in and pitched the seventh.
He proved to be the one bright spot out of the bullpen in the game. He did give up one hit in the inning and struck out two Tartars.
Jacob Greene came in and pitched the eighth, but gave up one earned run on three hits. Kevin Jenkins entered to close out the ninth inning, and gave up the last two runs.
Despite the bullpen woes, the Hornets will look to continue their hot start, Thursday at 2 p.m., at home, as they open league play against Santa Ana College.