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Softball Walks Off With Sweep Over San Francisco State on "Senior Day"

The Toros sent their 6 seniors out in style with a sweep over San Francisco State

CARSON -- Surrounded by former Toro softball alums, a "Think Pink" celebration and the pomp and circumstance that surrounds "Senior Day," it was freshman Jessica Hall who sent the Cal State Dominguez Hills seniors out in style with a walk-off 3-run blast in the 10th inning to secure the squad's first series sweep of the season in 4-1 and 8-5 (10) decisions over visiting San Francisco State.

With the sweep, CSUDH secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming CCAA Tournament, and will hook up with No. 2 seed Sonoma State on Friday, April 30, in the double-elimination tournament that will automatically qualify the tournament champion to the NCAA Tournament, looking to avenge the regular season series that saw SSU take 3-of-4 in Carson early in the season.

Needing just one win to earn a berth in the CCAA tournament, the Toros looked for inspiration in the form of a pre-game ceremony recognizing former Toro softball players who made an appearance on the final day of the regular season, including Renee Snyder, who threw out the honorary first pitch.

After spotting the host Gators a run in the third, CSUDH's bats indeed became inspired by replying with three of their own in the bottom half of the frame.

In the inning, Emiley McEwen started the rally with a two-out single, eventually scoring on consecutive Gator errors with the first of three unearned runs.

The porous SFSU defense again gave CSUDH another run in the fifth, as an attempted throw to third on a double-steal was short-armed by the Gator catcher, allowing pinch-runner Daisy Beltran to scamper home with what proved the be the game's final run.

Stephanie Jimenez, who spelled game one starter Lauren Harper with one out in the third, was nearly flawless in her 4.2 innings of work, allowing just one hit to pick up the win (17-9), while McEwen paced all hitters with her 3-for-4 effort.

CSUDH recognized the four San Francisco State seniors before honoring their own six in between games, and then donned pink jerseys as part of the "Think Pink" day, where proceeds from the afternoon's contests would be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and where those in attendance were able to purchase "Think Pink" items, including the Toro jerseys.

In the nightcap, the Gators again took the early lead, only to have the Toros reply in their bottom half at-bat.

Down 3-1 heading into the fourth inning, McEwen took a 3-2 offering from Gator starter Vanessa Truan with a runner on base, and deposited it over the left field fence for her 10th home run of the season, tying the mark of former Toro Jackie Miller, who belted 10 of her own in 2006.

That momentum continued one inning later as CSUDH strung together four hits en route to two runs, with Katie Jordan supplying both RBI.

CSUDH looked in control with Jimenez in the circle, until a Kendra Wood single to center with runners on second and third tied the game in the top of the seventh and gave SFSU much-needed momentum. 

That rush, however, was cut short by a heady play from the freshman pitcher as Jimenez cut off the throw home, and made a diving tag on Wood as the Gator attempted to get back to first base after drifting off too far.

The game remained at 5-5 until the 10th when Hall took Truan's 203rd pitch of the game deep over the center field fence that set off a joyous celebration at home plate, and gave CSUDH its first CCAA series sweep of the year.

SFSU, which ended its season at 20-33, 13-23 CCAA, was led by Lea Cardenas' 2-4, 3RBI and Wood's 2-5, 2RBI efforts, and Truan's gutty performance in the circle.

CSUDH, meanwhile, improved to 31-19, 23-13 CCAA with the sweep, giving Jimenez her second victory in relief in as many games, as well as the program's 30-win season for the ninth time in the past 10 years.

Additionally, it sets up a second-chance match-up against the Seawolves, who took 3-of-4 in conference play in mid-February, as well as a non-conference contest to end SSU's southern California trip after out-scoring CSUDH 30-20 in the five games.

In the other match-up, Cal State Monterey Bay earned the regular season title and the top seed after sweeping Cal State East Bay this weekend, while Sonoma State dropped three of four to surging Humboldt State at home to fall out of the top spot.

CSUMB, the defending CCAA Tournament Champion, will face Chico State after the Wildcats swept Cal State Stanislaus in its final regular season match-up, and UC San Diego dropped its nightcap at CS San Bernardino to mathematically eliminate the Tritons from contention, despite their two games against the Coyotes tomorrow.

Alums in attendance included Snyder, Regina Farfan, Christine Bathauer, Liz Vazquez, Megan Barranco, Dani Proctor, assistant coach Valerie Long and Cindy Brown, a two-time All-American and the program's most decorated Toro, while seniors Caitlin McGrath, Amber Angel, Michelle Miranda, Jessica Marlow, Jordan and Katie Garcia were honored in the between-games ceremon.

In a touching moment to begin game two, Marlow, who suffered a season-ending knee injury just 25 games into her fourth and final season in Carson, took her position at second base for the final time in her career, exiting the Toro Diamond field to a raucous crescendo of cheers and applause after the first pitch of the nightcap.

This is the first appearance for the Toros in the three-year history of the tournament, which kicks off on Friday, April 30, at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton.

 Images from today's festivities ...











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