SAN MARCOS -- Visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills held No. 2 Cal State Marcos for scoreless for six innings to open today's CCAA doubleheader, but the host Cougars walked off the Toros with a 3-run home run to steal the opening-game win before exploding for six runs in the second inning of game two en route to a 7-4 win and Thursday afternoon sweep.
Torie Au went 3-for-3 in the opener as the Toros fall to 24-17 overall and 6-12 in CCAA action.
Having dropped five of eight games against ranked teams this year, the Toros looked to reverse their fortunes after scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, courtesy of an RBI triple by
Makayla Bishop and a
Michaela Meza infield single.
CSUDH starter
Ashley Ogata was stellar in the circle, keeping the high-powered Cougar offense scoreless through 6.0 innings, scattering six hits and not allowing a CSUSM runner past second base.
That all changed in the bottom of the seventh inning, however, as a Toro error to open the frame set the stage for CSUSM's comeback, with a double and walk-off tater ending the game and Ogata's outing.
The hosts continued their momentum in the nightcap by scoring six runs in the second inning to erase a short-lived 1-0 lead after
Mireya Rico gave the Toros an early edge with a solo shot in the top of the second.
CSUDH added an unearned run in the third on the first of three Cougar errors, only to have CSUSM tack on a run in the bottom of the fifth for a 7-2 lead.
In the seventh, the Toros rallied on a Bishop RBI knock and RBI fielder's choice by
Ashley Goodale, but it was too little too late in the eventual 7-4 final.
Bishop and
Gaby Gandara each enjoyed multi-hit efforts in the loss.
The two teams conclude the series with two games tomorrow, with first pitch of the opener set for a 12 noon start.
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