CARSON -- The Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team lost the final two games of the regular season to Cal State San Marcos, losing the opener 6-3 and the afternoon cap 3-2. It was the final collegiate games for seniors Madison Murphy, Analisa Nicholson and Sharie Albert.
Game 1 - CSUSM 6, CSUDH 3
Coming off a win during in game two of yesterday's doubleheader, CSUSM star pitcher Ashley Dagenais got the job done again in game one working a complete game while only allowing 3 runs. Dagenais was dominant throughout the game.
The Cougars struck early on a big two-run homerun to center field from April Perez in the top of the second. Perez finished the game with two hits and three RBI.
Yet, the Toros responded right away and got a run back of their own in the bottom of the second. Jade Loe was able to single through the left side of the infield and drive in Kendelle Messersmith who double earlier in the inning.
The Toros tied the game in the very next inning and got things going early with a leadoff walk by Madison Murphy. The next batter Damari Simon doubled to left which got Murphy to third. To finish things off, Messersmith was able bring Murphy home with a single to left.
The game would stay tied at 2 until the top half of the sixth when the Cougars took advantage of a fielding error by Messersmith at short. What was a routine ground ball zoomed under the glove of Messersmith and started a rally for the visitors.
The Cougars would then go on to score 4 runs in the sixth thanks to a double to left by Perez, a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error and a fielders choice.
The Toros were able to get one run back in the bottom of the sixth but were unable to manufacture anything else and dropped game 1 of the doubleheader.
Game 2 - CSUSM 3, CSUDH 2
Game two was a much closer affair as the Toros stranded the tying run at third base with two out in the bottom of the seventh. The Toros got a great final start from senior Sharie Albert who went the distance pitching seven strong innings and allowing only three runs, one of which was unearned.
It was the Toros who took the early lead with a run in the first inning. Lyzette Reveles, who led the inning off with a single, scored from third on a sacrifice fly later in the inning by Kendelle Messersmith.
The Toros added another run in the very next inning. Alexis Pintado was hit by a pitch to begin the assault on the Cougars and Reveles tripled to right and scored Pintado. Although that would be the last time the Toros would score a run the rest of the game.
CSUSM tied the game in the top of the fourth thanks to a leadoff single by Holly Fauria, a walk to Lindsay Cerulle, an RBI fielder's choice by Sara Langdon and a single to center by Amanda Horbasch which scored Cerulle.
In the pitchers circle for the Cougars was Horbasch who produced another excellent performance and kept the Toro bats quiet. Horbasch also went from start to finish allowing only two runs.
CSUSM got the winning run in the top of the seventh when Perez doubled to center to begin the inning. The next batter Whelehon then reached first on a bunt attempt that the Toros were unable to handle and Perez ran all the way home on a throwing error.
