Turlock - The Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team split the opening day of the Tournament of Champions presented by the city of Turlock, Saturday at Pedretti Sports Complex. The Toros came back, twice, and defeated Hawai'i Pacific 4-3 and fell to Central Washington 10-1 in five innings.
 
CSUDH is now 10-17 overall.
 
The Toros will continue the Tournament of Champions, Saturday against Academy of Art at 3 p.m. and Hawai'i Hilo at 7 p.m.
 
Game One: CSUDH 4, HPU 3
The Toros came alive in the final two innings, scoring two runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to defeat HPU by a final score of 4-3.
 
Senior pitcher Alyssa Valinches picked up her fifth win of the season, giving up three earned runs, while striking out six.
 
CSUDH started off slow and could only muster two runs in the first five innings. HPU scored one run in the top of the third to for a 1-0 advantage. The Toros plated two in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Junior outfielder Doreen Corella singled and took second on a ground out from sophomore infielder Kendelle Messersmith. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Lane tripled to bring in Corella and Lane touched home on a RBI single up the middle from junior designated player Renee Galindo.
 
The Sharks responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own to retake the lead. CSUDH scored two in the top of the seventh to account for the final score of the game. Junior infielder Jazmin Guzman singled and senior outfielder Kayla Lock reached on an error to put runners on first and third. Junior catcher Rachael Sandoval grounded out to bring home Guzman and Lock at third. Messersmith grounded out to plate Lock.
 
Valinches gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the seventh, but was able to shut the door forcing a pop up and two strikeouts.  
 
Game Two: CWU 10, CSUDH 1 (5 innings)
The Toros scored first, but could not score past that point and fell to CWU 10-1 in five innings.
 
Lock went 3-for-3. Sandoval had two hits and one run.
 
CSUDH scored first as Sandoval doubled and was brought home on Messersmith's RBI single to center field.
 
The Wildcats responded with four runs in the bottom of the first and six in the second to take a 10-1 lead.
 
The Toros had two hits in the third and fifth innings, but stranded the two runners both times.