CARSON -- On a hot and sunny day, Cal State Dominguez Hills snapped a frustrating five-game skid by taking a 6-5 win over visiting Cal State East Bay to open the four-game conference series.

Angel Cortez enjoyed a 2-for-4 performance with three RBI with Quinn Johnson (pictured) scoring twice in the win.

After the Pioneers opened the scoring with a single run in their first at-bat, CSUDH answered with three in the bottom half of the frame, the big blow coming on a Cortez 2RBi single.

CSUEB knotted the game with a pair of runs in the third inning, and took the lead in the fifth with a single run.

The Toros, however, answered again, tying the game in a Deegan Grgas sacrifice fly in the fifth, and taking the lead for good one inning later after Cortez and Ben Saitz each roped RBI doubles for a 6-4 lead.

That proved instrumental after East Bay strung together two hits and a walk to score one run, only to have River Diaz DeLeon close the door on a would-be Pio rally to secure the win and pick up the save in the process, his first of the year.

Saitz added a pair of hits in the win as the Toros racked up eight total hits.

Will Paxton picked up the win in relief, tossing 3.2 innings while fanning four batters.

The two teams continue the series with a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 12 noon on Toro Field.
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