Box Score POMONA -- Despite dropping a 13-7 decision to Cal Poly Pomona to open today's CCAA twinbill, the Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team took away two big positives from today's setback as the Toros clinched a berth in next weekend's CCAA Tournament, and shortstop
Scott Ogrin tied the program's record for home runs in a single season after hammering his 20th home run of the year in the 9th inning. In the nightcap, the Broncos did all the scoring they need in the first to post a 3-0 win over teh Toros to complete the twinbill sweep.
With Chico State taking care of Cal State East Bay earlier to guarantee a spot, the Toros currently sit in fifth place in the standings, one game ahead of sixth-place Sonoma State the regular-season finale Sunday. The Toros and Broncos go at it at noon. Although the CCAA Tournament will have a double-elimination format, only four of the six teams will get to play it. The Toros will need to participate in the play-in game Wednesday at either 3 p.m. or 7 p.m.
Ogrin provided some excitement to a Toro team that was down 13-4 in the ninth, when he crushed an 0-2 pitch to left field to tie the program mark set by Jon Alia in 2009.
The Toros did strike first in game one when
Alberto Luevano singled to right to score in
Eric Smelko. CPP did damage in the middle innings including a 7-run seventh inning to put the game completely out of Dominguez Hills' reach.
Dylan Steen made it through six innings but was tagged for eight earned runs. The Toros only collected 10 hits off three Pomona pitchers.
In the nightcap, the Broncos got a 2-0 lead in the first and added a run in the fifth to do all the scoring. The Toros had six hits including two from
Matt Mecate and had one walk from Pierosn Loska but stranded five of those runners.
Nate Ortiz made it to the fifth inning before being pulled out with one out. He struck out four in his outing.
