SAN MARCOS, Calif. -- No. 4 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills erased the frustration of suffering three-consecutive shutout losses by dominating No. 8 seed Hawai'i-Hilo in the NCAA West Region's first elimination game before exacting revenge on No. 5 seed Cal State Monterey Bay in the day's second elimination game, advancing to tomorrow's NCAA Pod 1 Championship Round where they will face No. 1 seed and host Cal State San Marcos at 11 am at CSUSM Softball Field.
Watch the postgame video here.
The Toros sent the Vulcans home with a 10-2 win in five innings as former UHH standout and current Toro
Dyoni Garcia belted a 2-run home run as part of her 2-for-3, four RBI performance at the plate, completing the victory with an unassisted double-play at first base in the top of the fifth inning to seal the win.
In the second elimination game featuring teams that split their previous six meetings this year,
Makayla Bishop and
Marisa Dominguez both knocked two hits to boost the offense while
Audrey Gallegos regained her form in a complete-game win, scattering seven hits en route to the 5-2 decision, returning the favor after the Otters took down the Toros in their first meeting of the NCAA West Regional yesterday.
For their herculean efforts, CSUDHÂ advances to Championship Saturday against host and top-seeded Cal State San Marcos, needing to beat the Cougars twice on their home diamond to advance to next week's NCAA Super Regional against either No. 2 seed Cal State East Bay or No. 6 seed Biola, with the Pioneers needing to beat the Eagles twice in Pod 2 on CSUEB's home field to move on.
After spotting the Vulcans a run in the top of the first, the Toros put their offensive troubles over the past three games by the wayside, using a Dominguez RBI single and booming Garcia 2RBI double in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 lead, letting out a collective exhale in the process.
Having cast the albatross aside, the Toros continued their newfound momentum with six runs in the second inning, the big blows coming on a
Savanna Kastigar 2RBI double and a Garcia rocket over the left field wall for a 9-1 lead, stinging the team for which she played two years before transferring to CSUDH.
UHH looked to extend the game with a run in the third inning, but the Toros got that score right back after
Torie Au drew a bases-loaded walk to again give CSUDH an 8-run lead.
That was plenty for starter
Ashley Ogata, who tossed a 5.0 inning gem, fanning three and scattering just four hits.
Bishop and Dominguez both went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, with Dominguez, Au and Kastigar driving home two runs each.
Against the Otters, the Toros continued to rake, taking a 4-1 lead after two innings of play. The Toros used a shaky Otter defense that committed three errors in the first inning to plate the game's first two, before adding two in the second on a bases-loaded walk by
Ashley Goodale and a sacrifice fly by Dominguez.
Mireya Rico gave CSUDH a 5-1 lead one inning later with a double that brought home Kastigar, who was hit by a pitch to open the frame, only to have the Otters get one back in the fourth to trim the Toro lead to 5-2.
CSUMB had a golden opportunity to rally in the fifth inning. With one on and one out, starter Gallegos caught Otter slugger Ab Alba looking on a 3-2 pitch for what looked to be the second out, but the umpires ruled that Gallegos wobbled before her offering, resulting in an illegal pitch and putting runners on first and second.
Gallegos, however, remained unfazed, fielding a comebacker from the next batter to start am unusual 1-5-3 double play to quell the would-be Otter rally. Momentum stayed with Gallegos as she allowed a hit over the final two frames to punch CSUDH to tomorrow's showdown.
The Toros (38-23) are winless against the Cougars in five games this year, having been outscored 21-8 over including a 5-0 blanking in the CCAA Championship Tournament. The Cougars (52-8) are ranked No. 3 nationally, and have outscored their opponents in their regional 23-5, winning both games via the run rule.
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