CARSON – For the first time in the Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball program's long history, the Toros grabbed the brooms out and swept their crosstown rival Cal State LA in four games after taking the 9/7 doubleheader 10-4 in game one and 7-6 in the nightcap at Toro Field Sunday.
The Toros, who have now won seven of their last nine, bring their record to .500 at 9-9 and are now 8-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
Game 1 – CSUDH 10, CSLA 4
Much like the two games in LA Friday and Saturday, the Toros went on the attack early in the game, plating three runs in the third inning.
Grant Decatrel,
Pierson Loska and
Nick Henry loaded the bases on walks and with two outs, the Toros got the first run when
Angel Estrada's hit by the pitch forced in Decatrel and
Jose Jimenez followed with a two-run single to right center.
The difference in the game came in the fifth inning. Estrada was hit by the pitch for the second straight plate appearance to start the frame off, Jimenez drew a walk and
Jeremy Ciolek singled to load the bases. Nick Ade and Decatrel were issued back-to-back walks to force in two runs and leadoff hitter
Edward Manzo took a pitch up the middle for a two-run single to give Dominguez Hills a 7-0 lead.
Dominguez Hills plated three more runs in the eighth. Loska opened frame with a home run to center, Henry followed with a double to left and reached third during a fielding error during Estrada's at-bat. Jimenez scored in Henry on a sac fly and, in an unusual double play, Estrada scored before Ciolek, who doubled before, was the third out following Nick Ade's sac fly to center.
Isaac Mullins flirted with a no-hit bid for five innings, allowing two base runners in the fourth on a hit-by-pitch and an error. He left the game in the sixth charged with four runs – three earned – while striking out five and issuing no walks on 84 pitches.
Jesse Galindo and
Matt Garcia combined for three shutout innings of relief.
Although Golden Eagle starter Travis Burleson gave up just one hit and struck out eight in his four-inning outing, he issued seven walks and was tagged for three runs on 105 hurls.
Game 2 – CSUDH 7, CSLA 6
For the first time in the series, the Toros twice had to come from behind. After LA got on the board with a run in the first inning, the lead didn't last long as Manzo led off with a double, took third on a groundout and scored on Loska's RBI single up the middle. The left-handed hitting Henry brought Loska home right away with a double down the left field line.
Ciolek and Ade would open the second inning with a single and a walk, respectively.
Kyle Willman moved them over on a sacrifice bunt to allow Manzo to score in Ciolek on a sac fly and
Aaron Greenfield scored in Ade with a double down the right field line. Loska followed with his second straight RBI single to give the Toros a 5-1 lead.
The Golden Eagles would capitalize a couple of miscues in the fifth and scored four unearned runs to tie the game. They took a 6-5 lead in the sixth with a two-out RBI single.
Much like the first inning, the lead was very brief. Ciolek led off with a double and Ade doubled to move pinch-runner
Justin Morris to third. Manzo gave Dominguez Hills the lead back with a two-run single to center.
In what was a scheduled seven inning game, the two teams combined for 29 hits.
Nathan Ortiz went four innings giving up one earned run and striking out three strikeouts. After
Jacob Paradine pitched two innings of relief,
Ricardo Serrano pitched a one-hit seventh inning to earn his second save in the series and the season.
The Toros will begin a stretch of six series against schools from the north starting on the road at Sonoma State. Game one is Friday at 2 p.m.
