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Softball

No. 10 and Top-Seeded Toros Win Wild West Region I After 4-1 Decision Over Eighth-Seeded Grand Canyon

CSUDH to face defending NCAA and CCAA Tournament Champion UCSD in Super Regional next weekend in Carson

Under the cloud of dust is Veronica Vazquez, who scored the first of four runs on a wild pitch in the decisive 6th inning
Box Score
CARSON -- A wild sixth inning in which the first three Toro hitters looked at 12 of 13 pitches for balls to load the bases proved to be eighth-seeded Grand Canyon University's downfall as No. 10 and top-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills capitalized with all four of their runs to claim the NCAA West Region I bracket over the Antelopes to advance to next weekend's Super Regional against No. 6 seed UC San Diego, which beat No. 3 seed Dixie State twice to earn its second consecutive trip to the Super Regional after winning the NCAA Title last year.

With the win, CSUDH sits two victories away from reaching the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history, with game one against the Tritons to be announced.

"It's a dream come true to be that close to it and a great feeling to have the opportunity," begins elated head coach Jim Maier.  "I'm so proud of how far we've come, and we're going to keep fighting next week, whoever we play.

"I think we're slowly coming out of our slump we had at the CCAA Tournament," he continues.  "We're swinging with more confidence.  We were hitting the ball well early so finding holes was bound to happen.

"But once again, we have great pitching which is always going to dominate hitting, and the way we play defense, we are confident we are going to be in every game."

The contest looked to be a mirror image of the first game between the two teams in the tournament, with neither squad able to muster any offense.

After GCU connected for the game's first hit in the second, CSUDH put two aboard itself in the second on an error and a walk, only to have Antelope starter Kiki Sepulveda escape the two-on, two out jam.

CSUDH again had a chance to open the scoring after a one-out walk by Melissa Pacheco and base knock by starter Stephanie Jimenez, but Sepulveda again played the role of Houdini by wiggling out of the threat.

An easy fifth inning for both teams passed before the Lopes received a leadoff single in the sixth by Kayla Henry, only to have Jimenez retire the next three batters to keep the eight seed off the board.

Sepulveda ran into control trouble in the sixth, offering 10-consecutive balls to put the first two runners on, and two more after a strike to load the bases.  The Lope starter nearly escaped after Jimenez lined to second to complete a 4-3 double play, but Sepulveda's luck would run out after hitting Christina Chavez to re-load the bags and throwing a wild pitch to score Jessica Hall from third.

Daisy Beltran then gave the Toros a 2-0 lead with a sharp single through the left side, before pinch-hitter Brittany Brenner roped a single to second base to plate two after Beltran had swiped second base for a 4-0 lead.

All that remained was for Jimenez to continue being herself in the top of the 7th, and she did just that after her adrenaline gave up a leadoff double and one-out single for GCU's first run, settling down to fan the next two batters in the win, keeping the Toros perfect at home at 27-0, with three coming in the postseason.

"It seems to be a huge advantage (playing at home), but you think that what goes up must go down, and the odds are that we are going to lose at home eventually," continues Maier.  "But we're going to keep riding this wave as long as we can."

The Toros mustered just three hits in the contest and committed two errors compared to four hits and one error for GCU, but the only stat that proved significant was the final 4-1 count on the scoreboard.

"I know UC San Diego is going to be a great challenge, but we didn't have a preference on who we played," the CCAA Coach of the Year concludes.  It's an honor to be in this position."

CSUDH, now 44-13, also is just two wins away from matching the program's most wins set in both 2005 and 2006. 

The 2012 NCAA West All-Carson Tournament Team:
P - Jimenez (CSUDH), Sepulveda (GCU)
C - Brenner (CSUDH)
INF - Chavez (CSUDH), Hanamaikai (CSUC), Munoz (CSUC), Reyes (CSUDH)
OF - Cruz (CSUDH), Holtorf (GCU), Currie (SSU)
AL - Henry (GCU), Lipperd (SSU), Quadt (CSUC)
MOP - Stephanie Jimenez (CSUDH)

The Toros, who should receive hosting duties for next week's Super Regional, with the official call coming later tonight or tomorrow afternoon depending on the completion of play around the nation.  Stay tuned to www.GoToros.com for all the latest.
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