Toros Fall Victim to Long Ball in 5-3 (8) and 3-1 Losses to No. 14 Humboldt State

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ARCATA -- Senior Christina Chavez launched a 2-run home run in the 8th inning to break a 1-1 tie and give Cal State Dominguez Hills a 3-1 lead, but No. 14 Humboldt State went yard twice in the bottom of the 8th that included a 2-run walk-off jack by Dani Randall to take a 5-3 thriller over the Toros in Friday's opening game, before a 3-run jack in the nightcap pushed the hosts to a 3-1 win and the series sweep.

With the losses, CSUDH falls to 18-16, 10-14 CCAA.

The Toros broke through in the 2nd inning of the opener after Chavez was plunked to lead off the frame, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored after Veronica Vazquez lined a single to the HSU right fielder, whose throw sailed awry, allowing Chavez to cross the plate.

That looked to be plenty for starter Stephanie Jimenez, who had allowed just one hit through five innings of play.

In the 6th, however, Chrissy Stalf turned on a Jimenez offering and blasted her league-leading 15th home run of the year to left center field for just the Jacks' second hit of the game, tying the game at 1-1.

HSU looked to take a walk-off in the bottom of the 7th after starting the frame with a lead-off double by Serena Aragones. But Jimenez withstood a sacrifice bunt that moved Aragones to third, fanning the next batter and inducing a come-backer to end the would-be game-winning threat.

That momentum came up huge for the Toros in the 8th as Jimenez belted a one-out single to right, and trotted home after Chavez belted her blast to left center one batter later.

But the Lumberjacks, who entered today with an NCAA-leading 64 home runs, roared back with four for the win as Stalf led off with her second long ball of the game, before Randall put the game away with a blast to left center.

Jimenez fanned 6 in taking the loss as eight different Toros collected a hit each.

In the nightcap, starter Lauren Harper kept the Jack offense in check after allowing just one hit and no runs over the first four innings of play.

But in the 5th, HSU flexed its muscles again as Courtney Hiatt took Harper deep for a 3-run home run to give the Jacks their fourth home run of the day, and eight in the series.

CSUDH rallied with a single run in the 6th as Jimenez brought in Daisy Beltran with a 2-out RBI single, but it wasn't enough as HSU starter Katie Obbema held the Toros to just 3 hits in the 3-1 win.

The Toros, who have now dropped six-straight, will head to Turlock next weekend trying to right the ship at the prestigious Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus.

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Toros Fall Victim to Long Ball in 5-3 (8) and 3-1 Losses to No. 14 Humboldt State