Sonoma State Stays Alive in West Regional

Chico, Calif.--No. 2 seed Sonoma State (39-25) avoided elimination in the NCAA West Regional today with a 15-3 thumping of Fort Hays State (35-22). Sonoma will play again tonight at 7 p.m. against the loser of the Chico State/Mesa State game.

Sonoma blasted 10 hits and scored nine runs in the first two innings, knocking out Tiger starter Derek Lopez (8-3) after just 1.1 innings of work.

The Cossacks first three batters in the first inning all reached base on hits and came around to score. In the second inning, Sonoma sent 11 batters to the plate, coming up with seven hits, including a double by designated hitter Gabe Raymond, a two-run triple by third baseman Derek Bell and a run-scoring double by catcher Jose Cerda, who was celebrating his 22nd birthday.

Sonoma quieted down until the top of the fifth when they put another three runs on the board with run-scoring hits by second baseman Jose Sandoval and Bell.

Sonoma pitcher Colin Hayes (12-1) pitched brilliantly, shutting the Tigers out through seven innings before giving up two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hayes struck out 10 in the game to become Sonoma's single-season strikeout leader. His 12th win of the season also sets a school record.

Fort Hays managed just four hits off Hayes in the first seven innings, but the Tigers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth to avoid the shutout. Shortstop Jason Santangelo opened the frame with a double and second baseman Jesus Villarreal came up later in the inning with a two-run double.

Sonoma State's Derek Bell came up the hero again, as he did last weekend when he earned MVP honors in the CCAA Championship tournament. Bell was four-for-six, including a double in the first and a triple in the second to drive in four of his team-high six RBIs. With today's hits and RBIs, Bell becomes Sonoma's all-time career leader in both categories.

Winner - Hayes (12-1). Loser - Lopez (8-3). Save - None.

LOB - Fort Hays (9), Sonoma (6). DP Fort Hays (2)

2B - Sandoval-SSU; Agdeppa-SSU; Cerda-SSU; Raymond-SSU; Villarreal-FH; Vasquez-FH; Roehler-FH; Santangelo-FH

3B - Bell-SSU

HR - Hackney-SSU

Time - 2:42. Attendance - 111.