Carson, CA -- Visiting Sonoma State used four home runs on the day to take 12-1 and 4-3 decisions over Cal State Dominguez Hills in CCAA Conference action this afternoon, dropping the Toros to 20-20, 8-12 CCAA. SSU, meanwhile, improves to 22-25, 8-14 CCAA.
The Seawolves struck first in the top of the 2nd, stringing together six hits and capitalizing on a Toro error to plate seven runs, six of which were unearned, with four courtesy of a Megan Ochylski grand slam off CSUDH starter Jennifer Martinez (La Habra, CA/CSULB), her 1st home run of the year.
CSUDH mounted a rally in the 3rd on two singles and an error, but SSU starter Lindsay Emmel fanned pinch-hitter Erika Gonzalez (Los Angeles, CA/Bishop Amat HS) with the bases loaded to keep the Toros scoreless.
In the 4th, SSU pushed its lead to 9-0 with one run coming on a perfectly executed double steal of 2nd and home and an Ochylski RBI single, before adding three more in the 5th as Claire Hiney took Toro relief pitcher Jodi Nakawatase's (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) 3-1 offering over the left field fence for a 3-run homer, and a 12-0 lead.
CSUDH got on the board in the 5th, but it was too little too late as SSU managed 10 hits in the 12-1 win, with Ochylski and Hiney combining for 4 hits, 4 runs scored and 9 RBI to give starter Emmel the easy win (9-10) as the Seawolf fanned six Toros against no walks. For the Toros, Katie Jordan (Huntington Beach, CA/Marina HS) enjoyed a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Jessica Marlow (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS) and Jennifer Frazier (Buena Park, CA/Kennedy HS) notched a hit apiece in the opener.
Hiney continued her hot hitting with a leadoff home run to begin the nightcap, only to see the Toros answer with a run in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a SSU fielding error. The Seawolves, however, would answer three innings later as Alex Bright took CSUDH starter Michelle Medina's (Lakewood, CA/St. Joseph HS) 2-2 offering and hammered it over the right-center field wall for a 2-run homer before adding a single run in the 5th on an RBI single by Ashley Eisemann.
The Toros cut SSU's lead to 4-3 with a run in the 6th, using an SSU error and an Araceli Martinez (Downey, CA/Warren HS) sacrifice fly, and one in the 7th on miscommunication in the SSU outfield, but game one starter Emmel (10-10), who entered to start the 4th inning, fanned Medina (4-4) looking to end the game, giving the Seawolves the sweep.
The Toros continue CCAA competition against SSU tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 1:00 pm on Toro Diamond. Additionally, CSUDH will honor lone senior Araceli Martinez in a between-games ceremony.
