UC San Diego Squeezes By No. 9 Toros in Game One of CCAA Tourney, 1-0

Box Score

STOCKTON -- A suicide squeeze in the top of the 6th inning provided the lone run in today's opening game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Tournament as defending NCAA National Champion UC San Diego took a 1-0 upset win over 9th-ranked and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills on an otherwise picture perfect day at Arnaiz Stadium. Senior Khryssi Steele knocked two hits in the loss.

The loss drops the Toros the first elimination game of the tournament tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 pm, against the loser of tonight's No. 19 Chico State - No. 6 CS Monterey Bay match-up.

In what was billed as a pitcher's duel between Toro Stephanie Jimenez and Triton All-American Camille Gaito, the duo delivered, combining for just 5 hits in the first five innings of play.

The Tritons got on the board in the sixth inning after a leadoff single and stolen base by Kris Lesovsky before a ground out moved her to third base. With the infield drawn in, Caitlin Brown dropped a bunt that died 5 feet in front of home plate, giving the speedy UCSD leadoff hitter the opportunity to cross home plate.

CSUDH looked to equalize in their 6th-inning at-bat after Steele led off the frame with a double to dead center and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Veronica Vazquez. Gaito, however, lived up to her 1st-team All-CCAA billing by retiring the two best Toro hitters in Jessica Hall and Christina Chavez to escape the jam unscathed.

The Toros had one final opportunity in the seventh after putting runners on first and second with one out, but Gaito induced a ground out and fanned the final Toro batter she faced to seal the win, moving the Toros within a single loss of elimination.

Jimenez took the hard-luck loss after scattering 6 hits and fanning 6 as the Toros fall to 41-12 on the year, while Gaito finished with 3 Ks and 3 hits allowed.

Tomorrow's 4:30 pm match-up can be seen and heard live on the Toro Sport Network at www.GoToros.com/live.

Print Friendly Version