CARSON -- Cal State Dominguez Hills enjoyed an offensive outing with four home runs as part of eight runs scored and 11 hits, but visiting Cal State Monterey Bay one-upped the hosts en route to a 12-8 win to open the four-game CCAA series.
Nigel Buckley went 3-for-5 with a home run, adding four RBI in the loss.
The Toros drop to 10-8 overall and 2-3 in CCAA play while the Otters improve to 14-5, 3-2 CCAA.
Buckley began the offensive day with a 2-run shot in the first, bringing home
Deegan Grgas, who doubled to lead off the bottom of the inning, with
Tristan Usher giving CSUDH a 3-2 lead in the third after the Otters tied the score in the top half of the inning.
The Toro lead didn't last long as CSUMB put seven runs across in the fourth inning, the big blow coming on a bases-clearing double by Kyle Olimpia to give the Otters a 9-3 lead.
CSUDH answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth after Grgas and
Quinn Johnson both went deep, only to have the Otters answer with two in the sixth to make it 11-6.
Facing a five-run deficit, Buckley again came up clutch with a bases-loaded single to bring home two runs to bring the Toros withing striking distance, but CSUMB plated an insurance run in the eighth to account for the final score.
Grgas and Usher both knocked two hits, with Grgas scoring thrice and Usher twice in the loss.
The two teams play two tomorrow, with first pitch of game one set for 12 noon.Â
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