SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Cal State Dominguez Hills softball team earned a dominant 8-1 victory in Game 1 before falling 10-5 in Game 2 of a CCAA doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. The Toros used explosive hitting and strong pitching to take the opener but could not overcome a big late-inning surge by the Coyotes in the nightcap.

Game 1: 

Dominguez Hills wasted no time taking control, scoring in the first inning on an RBI single from Torie Au to bring home Alexis Aguado. After the Coyotes tied it in the second, the Toros responded in the third when Au drove in Izabella Chavez, and Alani Nguyen followed with a three-run blast to left, giving CSUDH a 5-1 advantage.

The offense kept rolling in the sixth as Aguado launched a two-run homer to right center, and Gaby Gandara added a solo shot in the seventh to put the game out of reach.

Alivia Holden (2-2) was outstanding in the circle, throwing a complete-game gem, allowing just four hits and one run while striking out four. The Toros' offense was led by Aguado, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, and Nguyen, who also homered and drove in three. Au recorded two hits and two RBIs, while Gandara and Mireya Rico each contributed extra-base hits.

Game 2: 

Dominguez Hills struck early in the second inning of Game 2 as Rico belted a two-run homer to left center, scoring Jay Ross to put the Toros ahead 2-1. The Coyotes tied the game in the third and took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a solo home run.

The Toros responded in the sixth, reclaiming the lead with back-to-back RBI plays. Aguado drove in a run with a single, and Nguyen worked a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-3. However, the Coyotes erupted for seven runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking control and putting the game out of reach.

Dominguez Hills managed to add one more run in the seventh on an RBI single from Samantha Kwiatkowski, but the deficit proved too much to overcome.

Ashley Ogata started in the circle, going 3.2 innings while allowing four runs on nine hits. Holden (2-3) took the loss in relief, surrendering six runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.

At the plate, Rico led the way with a 2-for-3 performance, including a home run and two RBIs. Aguado and Ross each tallied two hits and a run scored, while Nguyen, Kwiatkowski, and Au each contributed an RBI.

The Toros return home to begin a series against Cal State East Bay on Friday, Feb. 28, with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at Toro Diamond.