Toros Take 4-3 Win Over St. Martin's in Walk-off Fashion

Box Score

CARSON -- After blowing the lead twice including in the ninth with two outs, the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toro baseball team escaped against the St. Martin University Saints with a 4-3 victory. Three seniors got the offense going, scoring three of the four runs, six of the 10 hits and all four RBIs. Senior Carlos Leyva knocked in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth, giving him a game-high three hits on the afternoon.

Facing a team that came in 0-3 with their losses all by two runs or less, the Toros knew they would be in for a game . Things got started quickly as Leyva was hit by the pitch to start bottom of the first, advanced to second on a passed ball and scoring on a single by fellow senior Kevin Pillar, giving the Toros a 1-0 lead. The Saints would tie the game in the next half inning, but would leave the bases loaded.

CSUDH would continue to gather a few hits but could not have their rally result in a run until the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Leyva singled, moved over on a wild pitch before back-to-back doubles by senior Kyle Pond and Pillar would score two and stake CSU Dominguez Hills to a 3-1 lead. Junior Long Beach State transfer Josh Corrales would shut down SMU over seven innings, allowing on one run on five hits while striking out six in his Toro debut.

After a shutdown eighth inning by Danny Torres, closer Derrick Dingeman would struggle to close the game out, allowing St. Martin's to tie the game at three in the top of the ninth. Both of the runs Dingeman allowed were unearned on mistakes by the catcher, a passed ball and an error with two outs.

It appeared to be an uphill climb in the bottom of the ninth as the bottom third of the order was due up. Following the first D-II hit for junior Oscar Soriano to lead off the inning, a sacrifice and intentional walk would leave it up to Leyva to win it with one out. And win it he did with a base knock down the left field line, bringing home Soriano from second with the game-winner.

For the game the Toros would outhit the Saints 10-6 while also striking them out 7-to-3.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros will return to Toro Field to play these same Saints of St. Martin's University tomorrow at 10:00am.

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