CARSON -- Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Eric Smelko erased any ill feelings from his team squandering a three-run lead in the final two innings by hammering an 0-2 slider over the right field fence to send the Toros to their first win of the 2023 season in thrilling fashion.

The leadoff hitter finished the game with a 3-for-5 performance, scoring thrice and driving in two while teammate Scott Ogrin also belted his first home run of the year in the win.

In contrast to yesterday's game in which runs were on the board early and often, today's game began as the quintessential pitchers' duel between CSUDH starter Zach Geiss and CUI starter Josh Pugh, with neither allowing a run through the first 4.0 innings of play.

That all changed in the top of the 5th with the Golden Eagles got on the board first, only to see the Toros reply with three.

In that frame, Brock Denbo began the rally with a double to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a CUI fielding error off the bat of Smelko.  That proved costly as Aaron Greenfield followed with a double to bring Smelko to third, before he scored on an Ogrin ground out for an unearned run.  After a walk and a pitching change, Matt Mecate greeted CUI reliever Jameson King with a double to right for the third run of the inning.

After the visitors posted a run in the 7th, the duo of Smelko and Ogrin was at it again as the latter launched a no-doubter for his first round tripper of the year after the former led off the inning with a double down the right field line for a seemingly comfortable 5-2 lead.

CUI, however, got its bats going against the Toro bullpen with a single run in the 8th and two in the 9th, setting the table for Smelko's heroics.

Ben Polack picked up the win after coming into the top of the ninth and throwing one pitch for an out.

The offense awoke with 10 hits on the day, including six of the extra-base variety.

The two teams conclude their four-game series tomorrow in Irvine, with first pitch set of game one set for 12 noon.