Sonoma State Advances to Winner's Bracket

Chico, Calif.--It took 30 runs and 29 hits in the contest, but Sonoma State will make a return trip to the West Region Championship on Saturday, as the Cossacks held off the No. 1 seeded Mesa State Mavericks 17-13 in the region's elimination game Friday night.

The Cossacks will face two-time defending champion Chico State tomorrow at 1 p.m. in a re-match of last year's championship.

Sonoma State (40-25) jumped out to an early lead over the Mavericks, as Derek Bell hit a home run in each of his first two at-bats, driving in five runs, to give the Cossacks an early 7-0 lead. Jose Sandoval and Jose Cerda, celebrating his 22nd birthday, also hit dingers in the first two frames for Sonoma.

Mesa State (42-17) fought back in the middle innings, scoring runs in each of the third-through-seventh innings, eventually tying the game at 12 apiece in the top of the seventh frame on a sacrifice fly by Bill Weinbrecht.

Sonoma came back with the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the seventh, as Chris Howard and Sandoval walked with one out (one of 26 bases-on-balls issued by both teams in the contest) and Johnny Pham followed with a two-run double to give the Cossacks a 14-12 lead. Then, after a walk to Bell, Cerda lined a base hit down the left field line to drive in Pham for a three run Sonoma State lead.

Sandoval smacked a two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth frame for the Cossacks, scoring Joe Chutuk and Chris Howard who had both reached on bases-on-balls.

Mesa State rallied in the top of the ninth when, surprise, Ronnie Branin reached on a walk and Guido Schena drove him in with a single to center field. After Steve Woytek singled to center as well, Sonoma reliever Chad Bircher struck out John Drury for the final out of the game.

Bircher (5-1) picked up the victory in relief, hurling 2.1 innings, giving up three hits, striking out three and walking just one. Mesa State starter Scott Hofman lasted just 1.1 innings, while Shelby Hawkins received the loss. Hawkins went five frames, giving up seven earned runs, while walking 10 Cossack batters.

Last week's California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament MVP Derek Bell continued his hot hitting, going 7-for-9 in two games on Friday, with a triple, a homer and 12 RBI. Bell, who reached base 20 times in 21 at-bats in last week's CCAA tournament, reached base 10 out-of-12 times on Friday.

Saturday's 1 p.m. game will mark the 10th time that Chico State (45-17) and Sonoma State have met this season, with the Wildcats leading the series 5-4. The Cossacks defeated Chico 13-8 in the CCAA tournament championship game last week, but Chico took the opening contest of the West Region tournament on Thursday with a 12-4 victory.

Winner - Bircher (5-1). Loser - Hawkins (3-2). Save - None.

LOB - Mesa (13), Sonoma (15). DP Mesa (1).

2B - Branin, Mesa; Schena, Mesa; Woytek, Mesa; Drury, Mesa; Pham, SSU.

3B - Duvall, Mesa; Sandoval, SSU.

HR - Sandoval, SSU; D. Bell (2), SSU; Cerda, SSU.

Time - 3:34. Attendance - 143.