CARSON – It didn't take
Pierson Loska long to come up with the first clutch hit of the season as his bases-clearing three-run, two-out double in the eighth inning lifted Cal State Dominguez Hills to an 11-10 edging victory over Concordia on opening day Friday at Toro Field.
With perhaps butterflies all around on both sides of the dugout, it was the offense that came through with 30 combined hits, nine of which were for extra bases.
Loska, who led the CCAA in home runs and RBIs that landed him a spot on the all-conference first team last year, led the Toros' 13-hit day with two of them, both of which stretched for doubles, but also got the benefit of drawing an impressive three walks.
Aaron Greenfield had three knocks while three others each had two. The Toros also combined for eight total walks.
Catcher Tony Garcia III and eventual pinch-hitter Shane Schick each had three of the Eagles 17 total hits and combined for five RBI.
Dominguez Hills quickly went on offense in the first inning with Loska,
Jeremy Ciolek and
Joe Canepa each doubling to give the Toros a 2-0 lead. The Toros added two more in the third inning when
Angel Estrada hit a two-run single through the right side and, one inning later, Greenfield and
Jose Jimenez each had back-to-back RBI singles to bump the Toros lead to 6-1.
The 6-1 lead proved not safe as the Eagles figured out Garnett a third time through the lineup, putting up four runs in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to one. The southpaw Garnett ended his day being tagged for four runs on three walks and six hits despite fanning a half a dozen.
Concordia would eventually grab the lead twice late in the game, scoring three times in the seventh and two in the eighth to build an 10-7 lead.
Dominguez Hills' rally in its half of the inning began with Greenfield and Jimenez hitting back-to-back singles and Estrada drew a two-out walk. Leadoff man
Austyn Tengan drew was hit by the pitch to force in the first run and Loska took a full count and hit it into left field for the three-run double and giving the Toros an 11-10 lead.
Jacob Paradine went 1-2-3 in the ninth for the first save of the season.
Ricardo Serrano was credited the win after going 1.1 innings in relief.
The two squads will meet again at Toro Field Saturday at 1 p.m.
