The Sanchez Show Lifts No. 20 Toros to 8-0 (5) Nightcap Win After 4-0 Loss in Opener to UC San Diego

Indeed, the boom came for Adriana Sanchez. Two of them, in fact

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CARSON -- What a difference a home run makes. One game after sleepwalking through a 4-0 loss to visiting UC San Diego, a tape-measure shot by junior Adriana Sanchez in the 3rd inning of game two sent a wave of energy through the Toros, and the result was an 8-0, 5-inning win over the Tritons to salvage a Saturday split as Sanchez followed that with a grand slam an inning later to break the CSUDH record for home runs in a single season.

With the split, the No. 20 Toros move to 17-9, 9-7 CCAA, while the Tritons now stand at 17-13, 13-8 CCAA.

The Toros showed life early in the nightcap by loading the bases with none out off Triton starter Jennifer Manuel, who entered today with a perfect 5-0 record.

A fly-out and ensuing double play at the plate let UCSD escape the threat, but couldn't prevent the boom that was to occur an inning later.

Leading off the 3rd to Nelly's "Here Comes the Boom," Sanchez did just that as she sent an 0-2 offering deep over the left center field fience, with neither Triton left or center fielder taking more than a step to watch the ball sail out of Toro Diamond.

That blast put a jolt into the Toro bench, as evidenced by CSUDH loading the bases the next inning, setting the stage for more Sanchez fireworks.

Facing a 1-2 pitch from reliever Kayla Hensel, Sanchez sent an opposite field line drive over the right center field wall and off the new Toro scoreboard for a grand slam to give Sanchez her 12th home run of the year and her second of the day, breaking the record held by former Toro All-American Emiley McEwen.

CSUDH put the game away in the 5th after Kaci McGinnis drove home Jessica Hall to open the scoring, with a Catherine Brown bases loaded single down the left field line with Sanchez looming on deck driving home the final two runs of the game in the mercy rule contest.

Stephanie Jimenez picked up her 10th win of the year in scattering 7 hits, with Hall going a perfect 3-for-3 and McGinnis adding two hits in the win.

In the opener, UC San Diego freshman pitcher Alexis Edwards flirted with a perfect game until fellow freshman Jamie Duran spoiled it with a clean single to lead off the 6th inning as the Tritons took a 4-0 win over No. 20 Cal State Dominguez to open the Saturday twinbill.

CSUDH starter Lauren Harper and Edwards matched each other pitch for pitch, with Harper also tossing a perfect game through 4 innings of play, before Nicole Spangler launched a 1-1 offering through the left side for the first hit of the game.

The Toros looked to adjust to Edwards as the game progressed, but UCSD's defense shined as evidenced by a sure double off the bat of Jimenez in the 5th that Taylor Sepulveda snagged with a running, diving stab to preserve the perfect game to that point.

That defensive play proved the impetus for the Tritons getting on the board in their next at-bat as a squeeze play plated Kirsten Willmon in the 6th, followed by a Caitlin Brown RBI groundout.

UCSD added two more in the 7th on a 2RBI double by Willmon to put the game away as Edwards finished strong, facing just 23 total batters, just two above the minumum for a 7.0 inning game.

Harper took the loss to fall to 7-6, with Edwards improving to 2-2.

The Toros will begin a month-long road trip starting at Sonoma State next weekend, due back to Toro Diamond for the final week of the regular season.

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The Sanchez Show Lifts No. 20 Toros to 8-0 (5) Nightcap Win After 4-0 Loss in Opener to UC San Diego