Carson, CA - After winning a blowout and a nail-biter over visiting Cal State Bakersfield yesterday afternoon, the 'Runners took their turn in 16-7 and 3-2 (8 innings) victories on Saturday afternoon on Toro Diamond, dropping the Toros to 16-15, 8-10 CCAA. CSUB, meanwhile, improves to 17-14, 14-10 CCAA.
The Toros continued their hot hitting from yesterday's sweep, taking a quick 2-0 lead on a 2RBI double from Erika Gonzalez (Los Angeles, CA/Bishop Amat HS) in the opener of the 1st inning. CSUDH had a chance to break the game open as a walk and hit batter loaded the bases, but CSUB hurler Kristyn Daniels painted the outside corner on a 1-2 pitch that caught counterpart Jennifer Martinez (La Habra, CA/CSULB) looking to end the frame.
CSUDH had a second chance to increase its lead one inning later by again loading the bases, but after a wild pitch enabled Mayra Oliden (Los Angeles, CA/Cerritos JC) to scamper home with the third run of the game, Daniels prevented further damage by fanning Gonzalez on a 2-2 offering.
The 'Runners used that momentum in their next at-bat as Bethany Snow blasted a 1-1 pitch to the gap in left center to score Pikake Nutter-Gaudet and Elise Deering, who reached base to open the frame. After Kianna Urbanski followed with a single, Carrie Hilvers chopped a 2RBI single that gave CSUB a 4-3 lead. Two batters and a run later, Nutter-Gaudet again stepped to the plate and blasted a 3-run bomb to center for the final three runs of the 8-run outburst.
The Toros answered with three in the 4th to cut the 'Runner lead to 8-6, but CSUB put up eight more runs over the final three innings to put the game away, the big blows coming on a Nutter-Gaudet 2RBI single in the 5th and a Kelli Bailey 3-run bomb in the 7th in the eventual 16-7 win.
In direct contrast to the high-scoring opener, the two teams played to a scoreless tie over the first three innings until the 4th, when CSUB looked to push the game's first run across. With the speedy Urbanski on first base, Bailey roped a double that short-hopped the left field fence, but Toro left fielder Gonzalez hit shortstop Jennifer Frazier (Buena Park, CA/John F. Kennedy HS) with a perfect relay, and Frazier's laser to home plate arrived well ahead of Urbanski, who was tagged out on the play.
Zeros stayed on the board until the 8th inning, when the 'Runners notched consecutive singles off pitcher Michelle Medina's (Lakewood, CA/St. Joseph HS) glove, the second rolling to a vacant space in the infield allowing leadoff hitter Deering to advance to 3B. After Nette Puente stole second, Bethany Snow grounded to Frazier at shortstop, whose throw home was dropped by Toro catcher Michelle Miranda (La Mesa, CA/Grossmont HS) in a collision at home plate, also allowing Puente to score from second base.
After CSUB added an additional run in the frame, the Toros staged a rally in their 8th-inning at-bat, getting a single and double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with one out. Medina stepped to the plate and looked to get at least one run across, but her blooper behind 3B was speared by a diving Urbanski, keeping the Toros off the board.
Bri Mahr (Fullerton, CA/Cypress JC) didn't keep CSUDH off the board for long as she stung a single up the middle as the next batter to cut the 'Runners' lead to 3-2.
CSUB relief pitcher Katie Chavez, however, induced a routine grounder from Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS) to end the game, giving the 'Runners a Saturday afternoon sweep.
Jodi Nakawatase (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) led the Toros with four hits on the day, while Mahr contributed a 3-for-6 performance and 3 RBI. Nutter-Gaudet led the 'Runners with 5 RBI on the day, while Bailey went 4-for-8 with a run scored and 3 RBI.
The Toros head to Turlock to compete in the three-day Mizuno Tournament of Champions next weekend, before returning home on April 5-6 for their final regular season home games.
