Game 1    Game 2

La Jolla, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills earned a crucial split at 16th-ranked UC San Diego, taking a 6-4 decision before dropping a 2-1 heartbreaker to move to 24-23, 13-15 CCAA, with just four games left in the regular season.

The Tritons entered the week as the No. 2 seed in the NCAA West Region, while the Toros checked in at No. 5.

The Toros got to 3-time CCAA Pitcher of the Week Melissa Ward in a hurry as CSUDH starter Regina Farfan helped her cause with a 2RBI double in the 1st, which was followed by a Liz Vazquez (pictured) 2-run blast against her former team in the 2nd to give the Toros a 5-0 lead and knock Ward from the game after just 1.2 innings of work.

UC San Diego struck back in the 5th, stringing together three hits to open the frame and plate the Tritons' first run of the game, and then added three more on a 3-run bomb to left field from leadoff hitter Sarah Woofter to cut the Toro lead to 5-4.  The Tritons looked to add more by loading the bases with one out, but Toro reliever Kaci Carroll induced Jenni Habib to ground into an inning-ending double play, killing the Triton rally.

CSUDH took advantage of that momentum in the 6th as three batters reached via hit-by-pitch to load the bases, scoring one on an illegal pitch by Triton reliever Christine Zankich.

Jodi Nakawatase led CSUDH with hits hits, while Vazquez and Farfan each drove in two runs in the win.  Farfan also picked up her 13th win of the year (13-9), while Carroll notched the first save of her college career in 2.1 innings of stellar relief.

The hosts turned the table on the Toros in the nightcap, scoring single runs in the first and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead.  CSUDH made a game of it in the 6th when an error and three-consecutive singles brought home Nakawatase, who reached on the Triton miscue, but UCSD starter Lauren Chastain settled down to retire the next two Toros to escape the jam.

CSUDH's inability to score any more runs, despite a 6 to 2 hits advantage against UCSD, wasted a fine effort by Toro starter Kristin Tanaka, who allowed just two hits in suffering the loss (7-5).

The Toros conclude their regular season next weekend as they travel to Sonoma State, before awaiting their fate in both the CCAA and NCAA Regional tournaments.