CSM will be advancing to the next level of the playoffs after defeating the Cabrillo Seahawks 3-1 in the final of a three game series on Sunday, April 6.

The first game was on Saturday, May 5, in which CSM won 10-1. Through the first four innings both pitchers were putting up zeros on the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, infielder Bo Walter hit a single up the middle, and catcher Logan Trowbridge followed with a single to left field. Next, second baseman Mike Kathan was up and got hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded and still only one out, shortstop Brandon Defazio stepped into the batter’s box and hit a grand slam off of Cabrillo starting pitcher Shane Carle.

“I executed my pitch, but he just kind of dropped the hammer on it,” Carle said. “That’s what happens when you make solid contact, especially on this field. The balls fly here. That was my first homerun in two years, so I should be proud.”

Carle stayed in the game to finish up the fifth inning in which he gave up six earned runs on seven hits, gave up one homerun and struck out one. Cabrillo went through five pitchers for the day.

CSM pitcher Daniel Chavez went all nine innings, giving up four hits, one earned run and striking out six.

“(It was) a little pitchers’ duel early and then Brandon Defazio ran into a ball, grand slam off the scoreboard and really set the tempo,” CSM head coach Doug Williams said. “We played well defensively, and Danny Chavez was outstanding on the mound.”

Game 2 was set for Sunday morning with Cabrillo’s left-handed ace on the hill; sophomore Josh Rodriguez was facing off against CSM’s Clay Bauer.

“Always can be doing better,” Bauer said. “(It) wasn’t the best outing for me… After we lost the second game, we pretty much just flushed it as a team and moved on and knew that we had this game ahead of us, and we knew were better than that team and that we could beat them.”

Cabrillo’s bats were hot, ready to get revenge and even the series against CSM. Cabrillo took the second game in a 14-3 win to force a tie-breaking game three.

Through 1.1 innings, Bauer gave up five runs on three hits, walking two and struck out two. The four other pitchers for CSM gave up a combined nine runs on five hits, walked six and struck out seven.

In the second game, Cabrillo’s left fielder Kevin Hatch had two RBIs, catcher Sergio Sanchez had four RBIs, right fielder Kevin Rojko and third baseman Justin Schlie each had an RBI and designated hitter Vince Augustine had four RBIs to contribute to the team’s win over CSM.

Rodriguez pitched for the majority of the second game, going eight innings. He gave up two runs on six hits, walking three and striking out seven.

With the series tied at a game apiece, it was time to head to a third game to see who would make it to the Super Regionals. CSM put their ERA leader (0.78) and lefty Clint Terry on the hill and Cabrillo started their other lefty Mike Nelson.

Through the first five innings, both pitchers were racking up the zeros on the scoreboard. But, it was Cabrillo who would score first to take the lead. With one out in the top of the sixth, left fielder Kevin Hatch homered to left field off of Terry.

Then in the bottom of the sixth with one out, Brandon Defazio hit a double down the left field line. Mark Hurley followed with a single in right field that ended up scoring Defazio. Joseph Armstrong made a productive out by being able to move Hurley over to second base. Hurley then advanced to third due to a passed ball. Cody Zimmerman then singled up the middle to score Hurley and take the lead 2-1 against the Seahawks. Nelson then walked Jarrett Costa and Bo Walter to have the bases loaded before he was taken out of the game by Nick Rossetta. Rossetta then walked Trevin Craig to make the score 3-1 Bulldogs. He then got Logan Trowbridg to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Terry continued in the game for eight innings giving up one run on five hits, walking one and striking out three. He was confident in himself and his teammates to pull through the victory and proceed to the next stage of the playoffs.

He felt that they “…did a good job as a team overall; hitters came in at the right time.” Terry said. “(They have) to be confident in our teammate. We’ve done it all year, we’ve earned this spot, the two seed. So, we just have to keep doing it and do it the next weekend.”