CHICO — Cal State Dominguez Hills blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning only to regain it in the 10th as the Toros held off No. 23 Chico State, 7-6, Sunday to win the rubber game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association baseball series.
The Toros (16-18, 10-13 CCAA) had led 6-4 for three innings until the Wildcats (24-11, 14-9 CCAA) got two runners on to start the ninth and scored them on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly.
In the 10th, Brady Conlan hit a one-out double and scored on Parker Hokuf's RBI single to center.
Chico State had threatened to tie the game again with the leadoff man reaching third but Anthony Cortez (3-1) retired the side with a groundout, a flyout and a strikeout.
Cortez had not allowed a hit in his 2.2 innings of work, allowing the two runs on three walks. He also struck out two along the way.
The Toros had went by committee on the mound. Starting pitcher Jeffrey Gogue lasted two innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Peter Fierros allowed an unearned run in 2.1 innings and Luke Laurita threw three shutout frames.
Conlan and Nick Morelli each had three of the Toros 18 hits. In addition, Morelli had driven in two of seven total runs.
After going back-and-forth with the lead the first five innings, CSUDH (16-18, 10-13 CCAA) moved up in the sixth with three runs. Adrian Guzman led off reaching on a fielding error and back-to-back singles by 1-2 hitters Brandon Polizzi and Morelli followed by a RBI double by Conlan tied the game 4-4. The Toros took the lead on Lester Salcedo's sacrifice fly.
Wildcat starter Dalton Erb gave up three runs, 10 hits and had six strikeouts in five innings. Steven Baker (4-4) took the loss.
Before returning home this weekend, the Toros finish the non-conference schedule at Concordia Irvine Tuesday at 3 p.m. CSUDH claimed the last meeting, 10-5, at Toro Field on March 29.