SAN MARCOS – Ashley Wies battled her heart in relief for 8.2 innings, but it wasn't enough as Cal State Dominguez Hills got walked off 3-2 in 13 innings to top-seed Cal State San Marcos to open the NCAA West Super Regional Thursday.
The Toros now need to win twice on Friday to advance to the NCAA Championships next week. First pitch in game one is at 11 a.m. and can be seen live on the CCAA Network. The Toros will get a turn as the 'home team' against the Cougars in game two. Game three, if necessary, will be based on a coin flip.
The Toros had a mix of Wies and Alyssa Olague's pitching brilliancy and at moments defensively at a challenging Cougar Softball Field with the wind blowing in from left field most of the day. Olague went four innings with as many strikeouts before passing the ball to Wies. Wies had two strikeouts.
Both sides had stranded runners in double digits. Dominguez Hills left 11 while San Marcos left 14.
The Toros struck first in the second inning without even recording a hit. Maiya Lopez led off with a five-pitch walk and was subbed in by Sydney Diaz. Alex Davis laid down a bunt to move Diaz to second. Katelyn Sturm in a high bouncer to first base, the throw to third to get Diaz out skipped by and allowed the pinch-runner to score.
Olague had some threats but the Cougars broke through in the fourth. Bianca Gutierrez led off with a single to left center and was subbed in by Klarissa Munoz. Ryann Steiner drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Morgan Salgado attempted a bunt but was brilliantly caught by a diving Raquel Jaime who made a throw to first to ring up Steiner for a double-play. While the play hyped up the Toros, it was short lived as Aneesa Arredondo hit a deep fly ball to right field. Alex Davis and the entire outfield had to battle the wind blowing in from left field but the right fielder had to backhand a catch but was dropped, allowing Munoz to tie the game at 1-1.
After seven scoreless innings, the scoring drought was put aside in the 12
th inning. Claudia Valencia put the Toros ahead 2-1 on a solo shot to center.
Wies tried to close it out in the 12
th. She got the first out on a foul out but issued a walk to the next batter. The batter hit a grounder to Amara Labonog at third base but a critical muffed throw trying to get the tying run at second gave the Cougars a sign of life. It proved costly as the run eventually scored on a base hit to right field.
One inning later, the Cougars got the winning run on second base. The batter hit into shallow left field, following a bit of a bobble by Valencia, her throw was too late as Dafne Bravo collided with the runner but couldn't keep the ball in her hand.
While the Toros only got seven hits, only two of them were extra base hits. The Cougars tallied 14 hits.
