AZUSA, Calif. –Sometimes it doesn't matter how many hits a team gets, but rather when those hits come. Azusa Pacific was held to just 3 hits in a 10-1 drubbing earlier in the day at Cal Poly Pomona, and for most of the nightcap, the Cougars' bats were just as silent.
However, freshman catcher Jake Haaker rose to the challenge and let his stick do the talking as his 2-out 2-RBI double in the bottom of the eight inning lifted the Cougars to a 4-2 win over the Broncos, earning the Cougars a doubleheader split.
The Cougars ended with just 5 hits and 1 extra base hit, but got the job done when it counted.
"We were getting a little frustrated because we weren't getting many hits," said head coach Paul Svagdis. "We just weren't aggressive offensively today. We were taking fastballs and swinging through breaking balls, and that's going to kill us this year. They did a great job pitching us, but we also didn't do a good job of putting the bat on the ball. But with that said, this was a great game. This is what we play for. We got pitchers throwing their tails off, and we needed and got clutch hits."
With the game tied 2-2,Matt Dzama led off the eighth with a pop-up to first base. Bronco reliever Jeremy White came in to relieve Taylor Wilding and appeared to get the second out when he forced Traviss Hodge to pop-up to the mound. However, White misplayed the ball, and Hodge was safely aboard.
White hitRobbie Lindsey with the next pitch, and in his first at-bat of the season,Ryan Marcos sacrificed pinch-runner Hyman Jack to third and Lindsey to second to set up Haaker's heroics.
"I was sitting on a fastball, because that's what they had been throwing me all day," said Haaker. "I was sitting up inside and backed off after the first strike came, and just ripped it. It was good to help the team and get a victory."
Senior hurlers Chad Clark and Andy Alstot did all they could to keep the Cougars fighting. They combined to allow 4 hits, 1 earned run and 11 strikeouts, keeping the Broncos off balance the entire night.
"My weaknesses in the past have been a lack of focus," said Clark, who pitched at USC last year. "I've always just been a thrower and haven't learned how to just pitch as much as I need to. Getting here with coach McCorry I've learned a ton about the mental aspects of pitching. I'm learning how to succeed, throw strikes and get ahead in the count."
Cal Poly Pomona jumped on the board with an unearned run in its first at-bat. Chase Stroupe reached on a fielder's choice then advanced to third when Cameron Radonich misplayed Matt Stevens' sharp base hit to right. Stroupe then scored on a balk by Clark, and the Broncos led 1-0.
At that point, Clark began to take control, and the Cougars' took advantage of a Bronco throwing error to tie the game 1-1 in the fifth. Clark didn't allow another hit until the sixth inning, which he eventually closed out with back-to-back strikeouts with Broncos standing on second and third to keep the game tied 1-1.
"Pitching's about competing, and that's what makes it fun," said Clark. "It's just you and the hitter, and it's the only position on the field where you control the game. You've got to be confident and want the ball in those situations. That's what makes it worth being out here.
Clark went 6 innings, allowing just 2 hits and an unearned run. He struck out 9 and walked 6.
"I've only been here 2 weeks and I'm getting to know these guys," said Clark, "and for us to win a game like this in just our third game, shows the character of these guys. It was a good team win all the way around."
Alstot took over and pitched brilliantly for the final 3 innings to pick up his first win of the season. He allowed an RBI-double from Stroupe in the seventh inning to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead, but Derek Wholers bailed out Alstot and the Cougars in their half of the seventh with a clutch 2-out, RBI single to right to knot the game 2-2.
"We've been trying to get Wholers into the lineup," said Svagdis. "Every time we've given him the opportunity, he's come through."
Alstot bounced back and allowed just 1 base runner (a ninth inning walk) over the final 2 innings.
Haaker was the only player in the game that finished with more than 1 hit. He was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Wholers, Lindsey and Robert Guiles had the Cougars' other 3 hits.
With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 2-1 on the season. Cal Poly Pomona drops to 1-1.
