IRVINE -- Cal State Dominguez Hills softball head coach Jim Maier remains steadfast in his belief that pitching and defense win games, and both were abundant this afternoon as the No. 6 seeded Toros took down No. 3 seeded Chico State by a 1-0 count to open the 2022 NCAA West Regional, hosted by No. 2 seeded Concordia University.



Today's matchup between CCAA foes was a rematch of the conference tournament just six days ago in which Dominguez Hills sent Chico packing, and pitted the league's top two strikeout leaders in Wildcat Brooke Larsen and Toro Alyssa Olague against the other, with the pair combining for 408 strikeouts entering today.

With the win, the Toros advance to tomorrow's winner's bracket game at 11 am, where CSUDH will face the host Eagles, an 8-0, 6-inning winner over No. 7 seeded Azusa Pacific.

After a hitless first inning, the designated visiting team took advantage of a leadoff bunt single by Amara Labonog and a fielding error off the bat of Kaylee Hull, putting two runners on base with none out.

The Wildcats looked to get out of the jam after Larsen fanned Alex Davis and induced a ground out off the bat of Chenoa Au, but after Claudia Valencia battled to draw a 9-pitch walk, Kianna Abellera scorched a single to right to plate pinch-runner Jonessa Hebreo for the game's first run.

Abellera took center stage again three innings later, this time with her glove.  After Olague retired the first Wildcat batter she faced in the 5th, Sara Mitrano sent a deep fly toward the right-center field gap.  Center fielder Abellera, however, displayed her fearless nature by running full speed and nestling the drive in her glove before crashing into the unforgiving wall.

That effort proved momentous as the next Wildcat batter sent a single up the middle, which could have potentially tied the game.

Olague took care of the rest, retiring seven of the final eight batters she faced in the 1-0 masterpiece.

The teams combined for just eight hits as Olague picked up the win (17-12) with six strikeouts against no walks, while Larsen, who picked up CCAA Pitcher of the Year honors, suffered just her fifth loss of the season after fanning 10 Toros against three walks.

Chico State will play in the regional's first elimination game against the APU following CSUDH's contest.