Pillar's Slam in Nightcap Lifts Toros to Split Against Cal Poly Pomona

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CARSON -- With another sweep staring them straight in the face, Saturday's second game of the doubleheader took on even great importance. Cal State Dominguez Hills was able to salvage one game, winning the nightcap 5-1 after falling 8-6 in game one against Cal Poly Pomona. All-American Kevin Pillar provided the big blow with a grand slam in the win.

Game two's scoring began with a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Cal Poly Pomona in the top of the third to give them an early 1-0 lead. Jonathan Keener singled in Pillar from second with two outs to tie the game at one after four innings.

The Toros loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to two singles and a walk. Pillar then battled to a 3-1 count before hitting a flyball down the right field line that used the wind as impetus to carry out of the park for a grand slam for a 5-1 lead.

Starter David Fair took care of the rest as he scattered six hits while allowing one run in a complete game, taking first win of the season.

Game one saw a stellar starting pitching performance by Sean Wardour as he got out of several jams, until the top of the 3rd when the Broncos belted a 3-run home run to make it a 4-0 contest, adding a single run an inning later to take a 5-0 lead.

Catcher Keener led off the bottom of the fifth with a towering home run to left center to give CSUDH its first run of the game. With two outs, an error by the Broncos second baseman allowed the Toros to rally for four unearned runs to tie the game at 5-5 through five innings.

CSUDH grabbed the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to another error by the CPP second baseman. However, for the third game in a row, the Toros bullpen could not hold the lead as CPP scored three runs on four hits in the top of the ninth to in taking the 8-6 game one victory.

For the afternoon Keener led the Toros with four hits while Pillar led with six RBIs, tripling his season output to nine.

Cal State Dominguez will head on the road to play their next CCAA series against Cal State Stanislaus, beginning Friday March 4 at 2:00pm.

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