AZUSA, Calif. –Claremont-Mudd scored 6 runs in the final 2 innings to complete its comeback, then held off a furious Azusa Pacific rally in the bottom of the ninth to post a 7-6 win over the Cougars in a non-conference baseball game in Azusa.
The Staggs trailed 3-1 when they rallied to score 3 in the eighth off Azusa Pacific reliever Kelly Strickland and 3 in the ninth off Brad McKinney to take a 7-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
In the eighth, Kyle Seminara delivered a bases loaded a 2-RBI single to tie the game at 3-3, then Chad Sakumoto drove in Seminara to give the Staggs a 4-3 lead. Then in the ninth, Tyler Kimura stroked an RBI single to center, and Mike Miyamoto smacked an RBI double to right. Kimura added the seventh and final run, scoring on a wild pitch.
The Cougars, however refused to go away and nearly climbed all the way back in their final at-bat. Shaun Beutner led off with a single to right. Robbie Lindsey ripped the first pitch he saw for a double down the left field line. Matt Dzama then poked an opposite field 3-run home run, his second of the season, to bring the Cougars within 7-6.
The Cougars got the tying run within 90 feet, but failed to get it home.
Azusa Pacific took a 2-0 lead with a pair in the second on an RBI groundout, followed by an RBI single by Mark Streelman making his first collegiate start. CMS cut the deficit in half with a run in the sixth off of Strickland, but the Dzama upped the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single in the seventh.
Dzama finished with 2 hits and 4 RBIs. Robert Guiles was 3-for-3 with a trio of singles to center field. He reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances and scored a run. Lindsey finished with a pair of hits.
Cougar starter Andy Alstot pitched admirably in his first start of the season. Alstot threw his scheduled 4 innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 3. Strickland suffered his second loss in as many outings. He allowed 4 runs and 4 walks in 4 innings.
With the loss, Azusa Pacific falls to 2-3. Claremont-Mudd improves to 1-1.
