Seniors Help Reduce Magic Number to One in Convincing Sweep Over Gators

Senior Katie Garcia (center) played a huge role in CSUDH's sweep over SFSU

CARSON -- Seniors Caitlin McGrath and Katie Garcia (pictured) combined for 10 hits in 15 at-bats with 6 runs, 6 RBI and 4 doubles as the Toros swept a pair of key CCAA league games from visiting San Francisco State by 10-2 and 8-0 counts, with both games called after five due to the mercy run rule.

With the wins and Humboldt State's split at league-leader Sonoma State, CSUDH needs just one win in tomorrow's double-header to secure itself its first-ever berth in the CCAA Championship Tournament, set for April 30-May 2, in Stockton, California.

After the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the opener after two innings, CSUDH erupted for six in the fourth, courtesy of two Gator errors and a towering 3-run blast off the bat of Emiley McEwen on the first pitch she saw from reliever Vanessa Truan, tying the CSUDH career mark for home runs and coming within one of tying the single-season home run mark.

That proved plenty for Toro Stephanie Jimenez, who entered in relief of starter Lauren Harper in the second inning and captured her 16th win after tossing 4.0 innings with a single run charged to her statline.

Two sacrifice flies provided two more RBI for McEwen, who finished with five on the day, while Garcia led all hitters with three hits as SFSU made five miscues in five innings of play in falling to 20-31, 13-21 CCAA.

CSUDH wasted little time in scoring in the nightcap, tallying four runs in the 2nd inning on 4 hits, as three different Toros slapped home RBI hits.

The Toros added two runs in the 3rd on a Garcia 2RBI double, and two more in the fifth to take the 5-inning game, the final run courtesy of a Jackie Reyes single to center that brought home Cassandra Snodgrass.

Starter Harper found the touch that eluded her in the opener, taking a perfect game into the 4th before issuing a walk on a 3-2 pitch, and allowing the only SFSU hit to the second-to-last batter she faced en route to running her record to 9-6 on the year, with four strikeouts.

CSUDH, now 29-19, 21-13 CCAA, concludes its regular season against the Gators tomorrow morning at 11 am, welcoming Toro alums and recognizing family members before "Senior Day" festivities commence in between contests.

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