BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros battled to force final game in the NCAA West Super Regional, but ultimately fell to the Western Washington Vikings to close the season.
Game One
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Toros determination took the victory against Western Washington, winning 3-2.
The Toros took an early lead in the third inning when
Kaylee Hull and
Alani Nguyen delivered crucial RBI singles, driving in
Faith Hernandez and
Mariah Ramirez respectively.
Western Washington responded in the fourth with an RBI triple, cutting the deficit to one. The Toros widened the gap slightly in the bottom of the inning with
Jay Ross grounding out to third base, allowing
Julisa Gomez to score. Western Washington mounted a late challenge with an RBI single in the sixth, but the Toros held on to secure a tight 3-2 victory to force a game three of the series.
Game Two
In a thrilling final game of the NCAA West Super Regional, the Toros showcased their formidable spirit, although ultimately falling to Western Washington 7-6 in extra innings.
The Toros burst out of the gates with impressive strength, led by Ramirez's record-breaking grand slam in the second inning, propelling the team to an early 4-0 lead. She now holds the school record for most home runs in a single season now at 21.
Ramirez continued to make a significant impact, playing a crucial role in extending the lead by reaching base on a fielder's choice giving
Alexis Aguado time to score in the fourth, followed by Hull's productive out which brought
Faith Hernandez home. The Vikings responded in the later innings, starting their rally with a solo home run. Despite the Vikings' comeback efforts, the Toros remained competitive and determined. The game extended into extra innings, where the Vikings delivered a solo homer, to take the narrow win 7-6.
The Toros close the season in game three of the NCAA West Super Regional after breaking the single season home run record as a team with 48, the career RBIs record by Hull with 131, and the single season home run record by Ramirez with 21.