May 13, 2006

Box Score

vs. Seattle U.    vs. Cal State Stanislaus

Bakersfield, CA -- After dropping a wild 6-5 decision against No. 1-ranked Humboldt State Friday afternoon, Cal State Dominguez Hills took its collective frustration out on Seattle University and Cal State Stanislaus, taking respective 6-2 and 9-1 wins. In setting up a rematch against the 'Jacks tomorrow at high noon with a trip to the Far West Regional Final against Cal State Bakersfield at stake, the Toros have run their season's record to 45-10.

Senior ace Jackie Miller (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS/CS Stanislaus) hurled two complete-game victories as the Toros got an offensive boost from the entire team and ventured, by way of their three NCAA playoff victories and a date in the Regional Semifinal, where no CSUDH softball team has gone before.

"I just think that after the Humboldt game yesterday, we believe that we're one of the better teams out here and we played good ball today," said head coach Jim Maier on today's effort. "We played like we're capable of playing and we are believing more. We've got a long way to go, but we're so proud to get to the semifinals. That's a first for us."

After the Redhawks used a leadoff walk and two singles for a 1-0 1st inning lead in the opener, the Toros answered two innings later as Elicia Velazquez (San Diego, CA/Palomar JC) belted a one-out triple to center field and scored on a Lori Moreno (Los Angeles, CA/California HS) seeing-eye single through 1B and 2B to knot the game at 1-1.

CSUDH took the lead in the 4th on an RBI single by Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS) and then broke it open one inning later on four hits, including an RBI double by Kate Groden (San Pedro, CA/SE Missouri University) and RBI singles by Miller and Natalie Greco (Downey, CA/Warren HS). After the Redhawks threatened with three-consecutive singles in the 6th for a run, Martinez's second hit of the game in the 7th brought home her 2nd RBI to again increase the Toros' lead to four at 6-2.

Miller was outstanding in the circle, allowing just three hits after the first inning. The Bremerton native fanned seven Redhawks against two walks as she improved to 18-3 on the year. Miller also helped herself at the plate with two hits and an RBI, while Cindy Perry-Brown (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS) and Moreno tallied three hits apiece to lead an offense that erupted for 16 hits in the win.

Against the Warriors in the late game, the Toros took control after CSUS' Casey Stephenson swung at Miller's first pitch in the 2nd inning and deposited it over the right-center field fence. That would be the extent of the Warrior offense, however, as Miller shut down her former team the rest of the way, limiting them to one hit after Stephenson's bomb.

Offensively, CSUDH got all the runs it would need in its 2nd inning at-bat, scoring six runs on five hits. In the frame, Martinez plated two Toros with an bases loaded single to right field, after which Moreno matched Martinez's output with a 2RBI double to right center three batters later to account for four of the six runs.

In the 4th, the CSUDH defense got into the act with three-consecutive gems, highlighted by Velazquez's sprawling catch in left field off the bat of Roberta Argott, which was sandwiched in between Moreno's running grab of Meghan Franksen's deep fly one batter earlier, and Perry-Brown's snag of a Megan Law liner to end the inning.

The Toros would add a single run in the 4th and two in the 5th, the final two courtesy of a CSUS error and a Perry-Brown bases loaded walk, giving the Toros the 9-1 win after five innings of play. Miller fanned five in improving to 19-3 on the year as CSUDH swept all six games this season over the Warriors.

Greco and Velazquez paced the Toros with two hits apiece, while Moreno and Martinez each batted in two RBI in the win.

The Toros and Lumberjacks hook up for third time this season tomorrow at 12 noon, with the winner advancing to the Far West Region Final where they will have to defeat host Cal State Bakersfield twice to advance to the College World Series. CSUB, conversely, would have to win just once as both CSUDH and HSU have one loss in the double-elimination tournament.