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Toros Swept by No. 21 Chico State, 8-7 & 3-2

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Game 1    Game 2

CHICO, Calif. – Trevor Moore couldn't even wait to get to second base to pump his fists and clap his hands. That made the play at second place a little closer, but by that time, two runs had already crossed the plate. Moore broke out of an 0-for-15 slump with a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Chico State baseball team to an 8-7 victory in the opening game of a doubleheader sweep of Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday at Nettleton Stadium. Kyle Eveland's fifth-inning solo home run leading off the fifth proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.

With the wins, the Wildcats pulled to within percentage points of Cal State Stanislaus in the race for third place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association and they now trail UC San Diego (swept at home by Sonoma State Saturday) by only a half game in the race for second. The 21st-ranked Wildcats are now 31-12 overall and 20-10 in the CCAA. Cal State L.A., which swept a doubleheader from Cal State San Bernardino Saturday, trails the Wildcats by two-and-a-half games in the race for fourth.

The win in game one gav the Wildcats 30 wins for the 13th season in a row, dating back to the 1996 season, but it didn't come easy. Dominguez Hills took a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning and then rallied back from a 6-4 defecit and had the potential winning run at first base when Chico State reliever Kyle Gibson got Eric Blackwell to ground into a  game-ending double play. The save was Gibson's third of the season.

Kevin Pillar two-run single gave Cal State Dominguez Hills the lead in the third. And after Chico State cut the advantage in half on Bret Ringer's RBI-single in the bottom-half of the frame, the visitors stretched their lead to 4-1 on Cody Puckett leadoff home run and Pillar's RBI-double in the sixth.

Chico State took its first lead of the game with five runs in the seventh with the aid of two Toros errors. Nick Dingman didn't need any help getting the rally started, blasting a pinch-hit home run to left field. Shane Farmer then reached on an error and the Wildcats loaded the bases when Moore walked and Nick Victory hit a bloop single to left.  Joey Burke trimmed the lead to 4-3 with an RBI-single to center field, and the Wildcats toied the game when Jimmy Dodos' hit an RBI-grounder to second that was misplayed for an error.

Ringer gave Chico State the lead with a sacrifice fly to right field, and then Burke scored when Dodos got caught in a rundown between first and second, seemingly on purpose, to make it 6-4.

Dominguez Hills battled back to tie the game with a pair of runs in the eighth, but Moore's two-run single proved to be the game-winner.

Burke extended his hitting streak to 14 games, going 2-for-6. Ringer and Matt Bitker also banged out two hits apiece for Chico State.

Jr. Garcia (1-0) earned his first career win in relief for the Wildcats. He entered the game with one out and runners at the corners with the Wildcats holding onto a tenuous 6-5 lead. Garcia allowed an RBI single on the first pitch her threw, but then retired the next two batters on ground balls. Starter Mike Robbins did not get a decision. He allowed four runs on six hits in six innings.

Andrew Pluta fired a complete-game seven-hitter in the nightcap for Chico State, becoming just the eighth pitcher in Chico State history to register six complete games in a season. He allowed two runs on seven hits and improved  to 8-3 with the win.

The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the first and never trailed in the game. Puckett's throwing error with two outs opened the door, and then Josh Meagher singled home one run and Cody Dee doubled home another.

Dominguez Hills tied the game in teh second Jon Alia led off with a triple, Eric Blackwell doubled, and Brian Sturgis smacked an RBI-single.

The game remained tied into the bottom of the fifth when Eveland smashed his first home run of the season over the left field wall. Pluta was the first to greet his shortstop at home plate, and then went out and made sure the lead held up by allowing only one hit over the final two frames.

The teams will wrap up their four-game series with a single game Sunday at noon. Chico State's seniors will be honored in a ceremony approximately 15 minutes before first pitch. 

(Courtesy of Chico State)
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