Box Score SEASIDE -- Down six runs heading to the top of the 9th inning at No. 18 Cal State Monterey Bay, the Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros belted two home runs including a grand salami by
Aaron Greenfield to tie the game, and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th by
Eric Smelko, his third home run of the game, to take a 13-12 lead before surviving a leadoff triple by CSUMB in the bottom half of the inning to secure the stunner.
The Otters regrouped in the nightcap, however, to take a 5-2 decision to split the twinbill.
The opener was a back-and-forth affair that saw the teams combine for 25 runs and 33 hits, needing an extra inning to decide the outcome. With the Otters up 3-1 after 3.0 innings, Smelko belted the first of his home runs to cut a run of CSUDH's deficit, only to have the Otters answer with a pair of runs to up their advantage to 5-2.
After a
Vincent Temesvary sacrifice fly and Smelko RBI single brought the Toros to within one at 5-4, a pair of CSUMB solo jacks and an RBI single pushed the host's lead to 8-4.
The visitors earned two runs back after Smelko went yard again in the 7th and
Andrew Buglino brought home
Emilio Barrera an inning later, only to allow four CSUMB runs in the 8th to bring the score to 12-6, leaving themselves with three outs remaining in regulation.
In the 9th, however, the Toros roared all the way back. With one out,
Scott Ogrin belted a solo shot to start the deluge, with
Anthony Accordino earning a free pass and Barrera reaching on an Otter fielding error to put runners on first and second.
Martin Marin followed with a single one out later, sending pinch-hitter
Caleb Ellis to the plate.
Ellis came through with an RBI single to bring hom Accordino, before Greenfield unloaded for his slam to tie the game at 12-12.
Enter Toro reliever
Chris Cornelius, who retired the side in order to send the game in to extras.
In the 10th, Smelko greeted the latest Otter reliever with his third blast of the game for a 13-12 lead, and the Toros needing just three outs to complete the improbable win.
CSUMB started the 10th with a leadoff triple off Cornelius to put the tying run 90 feet away. After Cornelius fanned the next batter he faced, JJ Engman sent a ground ball to third base, where
Justin Abercrombie fielded the ball and caught the runner off third base, catching him in a rundown and diving to apply the tag before reaching home.
Cornelius then finished what he started, inducing a ground ball to Abercrombie, who gunned to first for the out.
The duo of Greenfield and Smelko combined for a 7-for-12 effort, with nine RBI and six runs scored to pace the Toro offense, while Cornelius picked up his first win of the year with a gutsy 2.0 innings of work.
Smelko's 3 home run effort tied the Toro record for home runs in a game, first established by Mike Gabbani, who went yard thrice against Alliant International in 1990.
The Toros couldn't repeat their effort in the nightcap despite knocking eight hits, paced by Marin's two in the 5-2 loss.
CSUDH and CSUMB conclude their four-game series tomorrow, with first pitch set for 12 noon.
About Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletics
The Toros are proud to be a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) competing at the Division II level, bringing excitement and tradition to the campus through 10 different sports (4 Men's, 6 Women's). The program boasts 4 NCAA Championships, 2 NAIA National Titles, 11 NCAA West Region crowns and 36 CCAA Championships. CSUDH is one of 12 universities that competes in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the most prominent Division II conference in the nation with 155 NCAA National Championships, far more than any other conference in the nation.
