No. 6 San Mateo rallies to take series 2-1 over No. 19 Reedley; advances to Super Regionals

SAN MATEO – No. 6-seeded College of San Mateo is headed to the Super Regionals thanks to a 2-1 series win over visiting No. 19 Reedley College in the opening round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs.

After dropping a narrow 3-1 contest in Friday's series opener, the Bulldogs' offense came alive to defeat Reedley twice on Saturday to earn the right to move on.

Game 1: Reedley 3, San Mateo 1
Luke Rossi smacked a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to give CSM a quick 1-0 lead. But that would be all for the Bulldogs as they were limited to just four hits in the game.

Michael Volkman was solid in an eight-inning starting effort on the mound for CSM. He allowed two runs and six hits while striking out four batters but was saddled with the loss.

Game 2: San Mateo 13, Reedley 4
Needing a win to stay alive, the Bulldogs exploded for 19 hits on their way to the big win in Game 2. Rossi smashed his second home run of the series, once again in the first inning, to get CSM on the board first.

But San Mateo put the game away with a big seven-run rally in the top of the second (CSM was the designated away team). The Bulldogs sent 11 batters to the plate, totaled five hits, and walked three times in the frame. Gianni Conte delivered a two-run double and Ethan Lopez drove in a pair with a single for the big blows.

Aaron Babeav added a two-run home run in the sixth as the Bulldogs continued to pour it on.

Lucas Schumaker (3 for 6, 2 R), Luke Rossi (3 for 5, 3 R, RBI), Dylan Hillman (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Conte (3 for 6, 3 RBI), and Kieran Baker (3 for 5, R, RBI) all had three hits each for the Bulldogs.

AJ Minyard allowed just two earned runs over his eight-inning start to pick up the win.

Game 3: San Mateo 15, Reedley 9
Dylan Hillman smacked a three-run home run and Ethan Lopez hit a solo homer to help lead the Bulldogs in the deciding Game 3 victory.

CSM trailed 6-3 after four innings before getting three runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie up the game. And San Mateo went ahead for good thanks to a six-run rally in the sixth.  

Four walks, an error, a wild pitch, and a hit batter helped extend the inning.

CSM totaled 13 hits in the contest, getting two each from Lucas Schumaker (2 for 4, 4 R, 2 BB), Aaron Babeav (2 for 4, 2 R, 3 RBI), Charlie Welch (2 for 5, 3 RBI), and Lopez (2 for 5, 2 RBI). Hillman ended 1 for 3 with three runs and four RBI.

On the mound, Dominic Cristinzio closed out the win and the series with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Up next: CSM, now 27-14 overall, will travel to Fresno City College for a three-team, double-elimination Super Regional tournament. The tourney gets underway on Thursday (May 8). The Bulldogs will take on host No. 3 Fresno City and No. 15 College of Marin.