Box Score
Carson, CA – The Toros kept to their winning ways with an 8-7 win over the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona, taking advantage of four Bronco fielding errors and boasting four players who enjoyed a multi-hit game, led by Brian Sturgis (Hawthorne, CA/Mira Costa HS) with two hits and three RBIs. With the win the Toros have made it three in a row and improve to 11-24-1, 7-15 CCAA, while the Broncos fall to 13-21, 6-16 CCAA.
After an RBI single in the bottom of the 2nd by Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) and another one in the bottom of the 4th by Sturgis, the Broncos would use a pair of RBI singles by Kirk Gross and A. J. Cavaletto in the top of the 5th to knot the game at 2-2.
The Toro bats responded in the bottom of the 6th, however, by pushing across three runs, the first two coming on sacrifice flies by Sturgis and Matt Magallon (Glendale, CA/Bellarmine-Jefferson HS), and the third on a double down the left field line by Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.).
CPP continued to put pressure on the Toro pitching staff in their next at bat after a 2RBI single up the middle by John Leonard that cut the Toro lead to 5-4.
CSUDH would take advantage of a Bronco throwing error off a sacrifice bunt by Michael Craig (Rolling Hills, CA/Pepperdine University) with runners on first and second that allowed both runners to score and Craig to reach second.
Sturgis then stepped into the box and laced the 1-2 offering into right field for this third RBI of the game, extending the Toro lead to 8-4.
In the top of the 8th the Broncos mounted one last comeback attempt with three runs, but reliever James Dodson (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood HS) regained control and induced a ground ball and a fly out to end the Bronco threat, after which Dodson set the Broncos down in order in the 9th for his third save of the year.
Starter David Leyva (Los Angeles, CA/Junipero Serra HS) picked up the win, allowing four run on three hits while striking out two in 6.1 innings on the mound.
At the plate Marquez went 3-for-5, while Cody Puckett (Apple Valley, CA/Hesperia HS), Craig, and Sturgis each had two hits on the day.
The two teams will battle again tomorrow when the series shifts to Pomona, CA for a twinbill slated for a 11:00 am start. CSUDH will then return home on Saturday, April 14, when they host CCAA leading and nationally-ranked Cal State L.A. for a double-header, with first pitch at 11:00 am on Toro Field.
