Carson, CA – Six CSUDH errors and a rejuvenated Southern Utah bullpen proved a bad combination as the Toros squandered a 7-4 lead in falling 10-7 to the visiting Thunderbirds, who picked up their first win on the year (1-4). With the loss, CSUDH falls to 2-5-1.

After spotting SUU a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 2nd, CSUDH tied the game in their 2nd-inning at-bat as a Scott Moore (Upland, CA/CSULA) single and Martin Conde (Los Angeles, CA/Fremont HS) double drove in the Toro runs, and followed that with a single run in the 3rd, courtesy of another Moore RBI baseknock.

The Thunderbirds answered with two in the 4th on a Toro error and a Jacob Romney double to center field, only to have CSUDH score four in the bottom of the 5th to take a 7-4 lead. In that frame, Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/CSULA) knocked in the first run with a bases loaded single, after which Moore drove in his final two runs of the day with a stinging single to center, with the final run coming on a Brian Sturgis (Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS) ground out.

In the 7th, however, the wheels came off for CSUDH as SUU notched a single run in the 7th, two in the 8th, and three in the 9th to pick up its first win of the year, the big blow coming on a 9th-inning 3-run blast off the bat of Cameron Nelson, and two Toro errors in the final three innings.

CSUDH's Jeff Phillips (Redondo Beach, CA/LA Harbor College) pitched 6.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs while fanning 6 SUU batters. Relievers Rudy Rojas (Lynwood, CA/Cerritos College), who fell to 0-1, Buddy McNeill (Pasadena, CA/Azusa Pacific) and  Matt Sannes (Long Beach, CA/El Camino College), however, failed to keep the lead as they combined for 3.0 innings of work, six runs and five hits in the loss. Moore would lead the way offensively with a 3-for-5 effort, scoring once with 4RBI, while Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) and Conde enjoyed two hits apiece.

For SUU, Nelson led three Thunderbirds with two hits apiece, while the bullpen of Dustin Wittwer (1-0), Chase Hudson and Jacob Noyes combined for 4.2 innings, 3 hits and just one run.

The two teams conclude their four-game set with a twinbill tomorrow morning, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 11 am on Toro Field.