Toros Rally Falls Short in 5-4 Defeat at CS Stanislaus

Michael Cruz went 7.2 innings in relief, allowing only one run

TURLOCK -- Following their first road victory on Saturday, Cal State Dominguez Hills fell 5-4 Sunday in its CCAA series finale in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus. The Toros could not overcome a disastrous first inning which saw them go down 4-0. Senior Michael Cruz (pictured) went seven and two-thirds of an inning in relief, allowing only one run on five hits.

After a two hit rally by CSUDH (6-13, 2-10 CCAA) was shutdown on a pick off play in the top of the first, the Warriors used that momentum to a gain a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. CSUS scored its four runs on four hits, an error, a balk, and two wild pitches, all while only one out was recorded.

The Toros inched closer on a one-out triple by Drew Rodela with his run scoring on an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the second. Reliever Cruz, who entered the game down 4-0 with one out in the top of the first, pitched the remainder of the game and was exceptional keeping the team in the contest.

After the Warriors (13-3, 7-3 CCAA) added a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-1 lead, the Toros mounted a rally over the final two innings. The top of the lineup manufactured a run in the top of the eighth on a two-out single by Kevin Pillar to drive in Carlos Leyva, closing the gap to 5-2.

In the Toros' last at-bat, a two-run, two-out single by Barrett Ceverha brought the Toros to within one at 5-4. Following another single to put runners on the corners, the Warriors induced the game-ending fly out to center field.

For the game, Leyva, Pillar and Jonathan Keener had two hits each while Ceverha led with two RBIs.

The Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros will return home to play national power UC San Diego in a four-game CCAA series with the first game set for Thursday, March 10 at 2:00pm on Toro Field.

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