Toros Fall 6-2 to No. 5 Chico State in Series Finale

Senior Kyle Pond had a team-high three hits on the afternoon

CARSON -- With a 1-6 record in four-game series finales and facing the fifth ranked Chico State Wildcats, Sunday's game was a huge uphill battle. The game was close throughout, however the Wildcats pulled out a 6-2 victory over the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros. Senior left fielder Kyle Pond had a team high three hits on the afternoon.

A scoreless first inning by both sides led to the Wildcats scoring the first run of the game on a two-out double laced down the left field line. Jonathan Keener knotted the game at one as he led off the inning with his third home run of the weekend, this one of the solo variety.

Chico State loaded the bases with only one out in the top of the third before CSUDH (15-19, 11-16 CCAA) starter Sean Wardour shut down the rally without any damage. CSUC (17-5, 11-4 CCAA) also stranded two more runners in the top of the fourth to total six stranded through 4 innings of play.

In the top of the fifth the sustained pressure of Chico State finally broke through and added a second run on three hits to take a 2-1 lead at the midway point of the game. Once again, the Toros tied the game in bottom half of the inning though this time it was thanks to a two-out error by the Wildcat first baseman.

With runs at a premium, the Wildcats manufactured the tie-breaking and game-winning runs in the top of the eighth with two outs by drawing a walk, stealing second and scoring on a seeing-eye single through the right side. They added three more insurance runs, all coming with two outs in the top of the ninth to bring the game to its 6-2 final score.

The CSUDH Toros will jump on the road next weekend for their next CCAA series, starting Friday, April 8, against Cal State East Bay in Hayward.

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