February 3, 2006

Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills received a rude awakening from NAIA's Concordia (CA) in its 2006 home opener as the visiting Eagles clubbed two home runs as part of a 14-hit attack, taking a 12-3 victory Friday afternoon on Toro Field.

CSUDH starter Matt Hopps (Torrance, CA/South HS) and CUI's John Tundis matched one another pitch-for-pitch in the early going as the Eagles would take a slim 3-2 lead after five innings.

In the top of the 6th, however, Concordia's bats came alive, erupting for four runs to break the game open. After the Eagles' Charlie Douglas led off the frame with his second home run of the game, this time off Toro reliever Chris Abbott (Pasadena, CA/Pasadena HS), a Gregg Davidson double brought home the next two runs before a Toro error one batter later allowed Davidson to cross the plate himself.

The two teams exchanged single runs in their ensuing at-bats, before Concordia added the final four runs of the game in the top of the 8th inning, the big blow coming on a Brandon Kawal bases-loaded triple.

Hopps, the 2005 CCAA Freshman of the Year, allowed just four hits in 5.0 innings of work to take the loss (0-1) while Tundis earned the win in his 5.0 innings on the hill. Kyle Stanley (Buena Park, CA/Hawaii Pacific) led the toros with two hits while driving in one RBI. For the Eagles, leadoff hitter Daniel Robertson went 5-for-6 while Douglas and Kawal paced CUI in the run production department, bringing home three runs apiece.

After the Toros alumni game tomorrow at noon, CSUDH returns to Toro Field to host non-conference opponent Biola, with first pitch scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start.