FRESNO, Calif. – The Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros battled back from a five-run deficit to force extra innings but ultimately fell 7-6 in 13 innings to Fresno Pacific on Saturday at Toro Field. The loss drops the Toros to 1-2 on the season while the Sunbirds improve to 2-1.

The Sunbirds struck first in the fourth inning, pushing across five runs on a pair of singles, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly to take an early 5-0 lead. The Toros' bats remained quiet until the eighth, when Jacob Pfitzner ignited the offense with a two-run double to right center, scoring Alex Sepulveda and Quinn Johnson. Teige Barrett followed with an infield single, bringing Pfitzner home on an error to cut the deficit to two.

In the ninth, Noah Karliner delivered in the clutch, launching a two-run home run to center field to tie the game at 5-5 and send it into extra innings. The Toros took their first lead in the 11th when Johnson lifted a sacrifice fly to right, allowing Trey Winget to score. However, the Sunbirds responded in the bottom half of the frame, evening the score with an RBI single.

After a scoreless 12th, Fresno Pacific capitalized on a wild pitch in the 13th inning to score the game-winning run, sealing the walk-off victory.

Sepulveda led the Toros at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a walk. Karliner finished 2-for-6 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored, while Pfitzner went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and a run. Barrett contributed with an RBI single, and Johnson added an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Emilio Barrera also chipped in with a 2-for-6 performance.

On the mound, Justin Abercrombie got the start, while Joel Gaitan, Evan Vazquez, Julian Castro, Brian Kraft, Blake Logan and Derek Ryan combined for nine innings of relief, holding the Sunbirds to two runs after the fourth inning.

Toros will look to bounce back next week as they continue non-conference play at home in a series against Concordia University Irvine, game one is Thursday Feb 6th at 1pm.