The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Junior utility player Adalberto Santos stomps on the plate to score the winning run in Sunday's victory over California. Santos was knocked in by junior catcher Ryan Ortiz.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eleventh inning, junior catcher Ryan Ortiz stepped into the batter's box with the winning one run only 90 feet from home plate.

After watching two breaking balls fail to hit the strike zone, Ortiz dug in his cleats and drove the very next pitch into left center. A shallow playing outfield allowed junior utility player Adalberto Santos to walk in as the winning run from third base.

"He threw me two curve balls to start the at bat, one high and the other in the dirt," Ortiz said. "I was looking 2-0 fastball and I got it. It felt great to come through for the team."

A game that appeared to be all but over in the 9th inning when sophomore closer Kevin Rhoderick took the mound in search of his fifth save of the year drastically turned for the worse when Rhoderick struggled to find the strike zone.

Throwing four straight balls to the first batter he faced and allowing a single to the second, Rhoderick's two-run lead seemed to lose its significance when the go ahead run stood at the plate. Proving still to be shaken up by his start, Rhoderick threw the very next pitch in the dirt, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position.

In an inning that seemed to never end, Rhoderick would get a key ground ball he was looking for before walking the bases loaded with one out. In an effort to clean up the mess he had created, Rhoderick struck out the next batter, leaving the Beavers only one out away from a victory. The joy from the strikeout was short-lived when Rhoderick conceded a single up the middle that allowed two runs to cross the plate and knot the game up at three.

"Our team fought hard all day," Santos said. "It was a long game and very hot out here. We stayed tough and showed a lot of integrity today. It showed that we have a lot of heart. Nobody is going to give up because nobody wants to lose."

After tying the game at three, Cal was unable to manufacture another run, sending the Beavers into the bottom of the ninth where they experienced their own woes at the plate. Heading into extra innings for the second time in early conference play, the Beavers could not help but be reminded of their loss to the Ducks and would refuse to allow it to happen again.

Continued...

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