SAN MARCOS - Cal State Dominguez Hills split a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) softball doubleheader with Cal State San Marcos, Friday at Cougar Softball Field. The Cougars took game one, 1-0 in eight innings, before the Toros prevailed in the second contest, 7-1.
 
The Toros are now 12-24 overall and 8-18 in conference play. The Cougars are 9-31 overall and 5-25 in the CCAA.
 
The two teams will close out the four-game series with another doubleheader on Saturday, April 7 starting at 11 a.m.
 
Game One - Cal State San Marcos 2, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 (8 innings)
The Toros outhit the Cougars 8-7, but fell in extra innings, 2-1. Senior pitcher Alyssa Valinches gave up only one earned run in 7.2 innings pitched, while striking out five. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Lane was the only CSUDH player with multiple hits with two.
 
Freshman infielder Chloe Wenger gave the Toros the lead in the top of the second, 1-0, as she lifted one over the left field wall for her first home run of the season. CSUSM evened the score in the bottom of the inning thanks to a CSUDH error. Both teams then went for five scoreless frames before the Cougars ended the game on a walk-off hit in the eighth. The Toros left one runner on in the seventh and eighth innings.
 
Game Two - Cal State Dominguez Hills 7, Cal State San Marcos 1
CSUDH amassed nine hits and prevailed 7-1. Sophomore pitcher Jade Loe gave up only one run in seven innings. Junior infielder Jazmin Guzman had two hits and one run. Junior catcher Rachael Sandoval recorded three hits, three RBI and one run. Senior infielder Alexis Pintado amassed two hits and one run.
 
Sandoval gave CSUDH a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as Sandoval hit a single up the middle with the bases loaded to plate freshman outfielder Kelcy Telles and Pintado. The Cougars made it a one-score game in the third inning as they put up a run.
 
The Toros responded with two runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to seal the game. Junior outfielder Damari Simon singled and Lane drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt from Wenger put runners on second and third. Junior Alexis Pintado, who came into pinch hit, flied out to right field on the sacrifice as Simon tagged up and came into score. A throwing error on the same play would also plate Lane. In the sixth inning, Guzman singled and took second on a sacrifice bunt from senior designated player Kayla Lock. Sandoval doubled to get Guzman home and Lane would reach on a fielder's choice. Both Sandoval and Lane came in on a CSUSM throwing error.