Carson, CA – The Toros would ride another strong nightcap pitching performance to come away with a 5-2 win in game two after dropping the opener, 11-9, to visiting Cal State San Marcos. With the split the Toros pick up their first win of the year and improve to 1-4-1 while the Cougars move to 2-8.

The Cougars would strike first with a two-out home run to right field by Scott Shaprio in the top of the 1st, but the Toros would counter in the bottom of the 2nd on an RBI single to by Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) to scored Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) from second.

CSUSM's bats would heat up in the top of the 3rd, scoring five funs on three hits and one Toro error.

CSUDH would attempt to keep pace in the bottom of the inning as the pushed across three runs, and after San Marcos would tack on a single run in the 4th, the Toros countered with three in the bottom of the 5th to cut the deficit to just one at 8-7.

However, the Cougars would score two runs in the 6th and 7th, and the Toros would not be able to keep pace, dropping the opener 11-9.

Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) and Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) would each have three hits in the first ever meeting between the teams.

The Toros would attack first in the nightcap, scoring twice on a bases loaded walk and an ensuing passed ball. Moore would drive in the Toros third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Hicks.

Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach City College) would lead off the 2nd with a walk and advance to second on a wild pitch. After a pitching change, Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) stepped into the box and laced a single down the left field line to drive in Coleman to give CSUDH a 4-0 lead.

Terry Mortiz would ruin the Toro shutout in the top of the 5th, taking a 1-0 offering and sending it over the wall in right for a 2-run homerun, his second of the day.

With two outs in the bottom of the 5th, however, the Toros would answer as Hernandez would double down the left field line, and then score on a double by Michael Craig (Rolling Hills, CA/Pepperdine University) to deep center field.

Toro starter Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/Harbor College) would keep the Cougar bats at bay for the rest of the game, and pick up the complete game win, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out four batters.

Hernandez and Craig would each have a pair of hits in the nightcap.

The Toros will next be in action next Thursday, February 15, when they host Southern Utah University for the first meeting between the two schools, with first pitch slated for 2:00 pm on Toro Field.