Carson, CA -- Freshman Katie Jordan (Huntington Beach, CA/Marina HS) enjoyed a 6-for-6 performance at the plate while CSUDH blasted three home runs on the day to sweep visiting and Division I-bound Cal State Bakersfield on a Friday afternoon at Toro Diamond, 15-7 and 4-3. With the wins, CSUDH improves to 16-13, 8-8 CCAA, while CSUB falls to 15-14, 12-10 CCAA.
After nearly wasting consecutive singles by Jodi Nakawatase (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) and Jennifer Frazier (Buena Park, CA/Kennedy HS) to lead off the top of the 1st inning in the opener, CSUB starter Kristyn Daniels retired the next two Toros before Katie Garcia (Riverside, CA/La Sierra HS) blooped a single that bounced in front of Daniels to load the bases. Erika Gonzalez (Los Angeles, CA/Bishop Amat HS) then drew a walk to bring home the first run, after which Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS) cleared the bases with a booming double over the right fielder's head for a quick 4-0 lead.
The 'Runners, however, would answer with seven unearned runs in the 2nd, capitalizing on a two-out fielding error which opened the floodgates. After the error, CSUB strung together four hits and two walks to tie the game, after which Kelli Bailey cleared the bases with her own double for the 7-4 lead.
That's where the score remained until the bottom of the 3rd, when Michelle Medina (Lakewood, CA/St. Joseph's HS) led off with her 2nd home run of the year. Two outs and four batters later, Jennifer Martinez (La Habra, CA/CSULB) gave CSUDH the lead with a 3-run blast over the left field fence on an 0-2 pitch, her 3rd long ball of the year.
The Toros added a run in the 4th on a Jordan sacrifice fly, and then broke the game open with six in the 5th to take a 15-7 game one win in which they erupted for 16 hits. In the frame, the 'Runners committed two errors as Mayra Oliden, Nakawatase, Mahr, Jordan and J. Martinez picked up RBIs in the 5-inning contest.
In the nightcap, CSUDH used a CSUB error, a Frazier single, a sacrifice and wild pitch to plate the game's first run in the first frame, and a two-run blast to center field from Mahr in the 3rd after another Frazier base-knock to give the Toros a 3-0 lead.
CSUB countered with single runs in the 4th and 5th innings, courtesy of a Pikake Nutter-Gaudet home run, her second, and a fielder's choice in which the 'Runners somehow avoided being tagged out twice on the same play.
In the bottom of the 5th, however, CSUDH gained a run back after Jordan stroked her third hit of the game and sixth of the afternoon to bring home pinch-runner Jessica Foerster (Buena Park, CA/Fullerton JC), who came in after Mahr blasted a one-out single up the middle to begin the rally.
On the day, Jordan added 3 RBI and 2 runs scored while Nakawatase (4-for-8, 3 runs), Frazier (4-for-7, 4 runs), J. Martinez (4 RBI) and A. Martinez (2-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 runs) contributed in the sweep, with J. Martinez hurling two complete games to improve to 14-13 on the year. Meanwhile, CSUB's Bailey went 3-for-6 with 3 RBI to lead the 'Runners, while Daniels (10-6) and Shawna Truan (4-7) picked up the losses in the circle.
The two teams continue CCAA competition tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 12 noon on Toro Diamond.