Phoenix, AZ -- Cal State Dominguez Hills rode the bats of Michelle Medina (Lakewood, CA/St. Joseph HS) and Bri Mahr (Fullerton, CA/Cypress CC) in taking a high-scoring 13-8 win over Cameron University in its opening game of the Schutt Lead Off Classic, and enjoyed a balanced offensive attack in its late game 7-3 victory over Central Washington in taking both games on day one of the three-day tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.
In the opener against Cameron University, the Toros got on the board early and often with a run in the 3rd and five in the 4th, the big blow coming on Medina's grand slam home run to give the Toros a commanding 6-0 lead, the freshman's first long ball of the year. That cushion didn't last long, however, as Cameron's Stephanie Bour connected for one of her four hits in the game to the tune of a 3-run home run as part of a 6-run 4th that knotted the contest at 6-6. CSUDH, however, would not succumb to the resurgent Cameron offense, answering with three runs in the top of the 5th, highlighted by a 2-run single by Mahr. After the Toros added a run in the 6th, two bases loaded walks and an Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS) sacrifice fly pushed across the Toros' final three runs of the contest, giving CSUDH a high-octane 13-8 victory.
Medina and Mahr provided the punch at the plate, combining for a 4-for-6 performance with 8 RBI and 4 runs scored. Hurler Jennifer Martinez (La Habra, CA/Cal State Long Beach) picked up the win as she fanned 6 Aggies against just one walk in hurling the complete game.
In the late game, CSUDH spotted Central Washington a 2-0 lead in the top of the 2nd, only to answer with three in their 2nd inning at-bat. In the frame, a Jessica Marlow (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS) RBI ground out was followed by a Jennifer Frazier (Buena Park, CA/John F. Kennedy HS) bases loaded walk and an A. Martinez fielder's choice, giving the Toros the lead for good. After the Wildcats scored the equalizer in the top of the 3rd, CSUDH put the game away with four runs in the bottom of the 6th as a Christine Bathauer (Torrance, CA/West HS) 2RBI pinch hit double, a Jodi Nakawatasi (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) RBI single and a J. Martinez RBI double provided the big blows in the frame.
In the circle, J. Martinez scattered five hits while fanning five CWU batters in the win. Offensively, Katie Garcia (Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) was the lone Toro to gather more than one hit as six different Toros accounted for the seven runs batted in their third-straight win, and sixth of their last seven.
CSUDH continues pool play tomorrow afternoon as it faces Eastern New Mexico at the Schutt Lead Off Classic at 1:30 pm, before facing an opponent to be determined in the late game.
