Keesee's Walk-Off Homer Gives Toros Split in Twinbill Against Cal Poly Pomona
David Keesee’s solo home run gives CSUDH 7-6 win in nightcap, Cal Poly won early game 13-6
March 8, 2003

Complete Box Scores
Game 1     Game 2

CARSON, Calif.--Cal State Dominguez Hills split a doubleheader against rival Cal Poly Pomona in California Collegiate Athletic Association baseball action Saturday afternoon at Toro Field. The Broncos won the early game, 13-6, and the Toros were able to salvage the split with a thrilling come-from-behind win, 7-6, in the nightcap.

With the split today, the Toros record is now 12-10 overall and 8-8 in CCAA play. Pomona is 5-18 and 4-12 in league action.

In the first game, Toros starter Chris Ingstad (Lakewood HS) was roughed-up surrendering eight runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work. CPP got it started with a five-run first inning with run-scoring singles by Ken Galindo, Chase Stroupe and a 3-run double with the bases loaded by James Nepa.

CSUDH got two runs back in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, 2-run single by Ruben Salazar (St. John Bosco HS) with runners on second and third to make it 5-2.

The Toros added a lone run in the third to trim the deficit to 5-3 after an RBI fielders choice off the bat of Joe Gevas (Vallejo, CA).

The Broncos then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth. In the fourth, James Waninger had an RBI double followed one out later by a two-run single from Matt Stevens to take an 8-3 lead. CPP made it 10-3 in the fifth scoring two unearned runs.

The Toros cut the lead to 10-6 in the bottom of the fifth plating three runs on three hits. Salazar knocked in a run off a sacrifice fly and David Keesee hit his first home run of the day and the season, a 2-run shot, deep over the centerfield wall. But Pomona tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a Jason Stuck two-run homer to account for the final, 13-6.

CPP starter Taylor Wilding (2-0) earned the win going the first 5.1 innings allowing six runs on nine hits. Derek Wilson worked the final 3.2 innings to get credit for the save.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Ryan Owen (W. Torrance HS) was effective in relief of Ingstad. Owen went 4.1 innings allowing two runs, none earned, on three hits while striking out three.

In the late game, CSUDH jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second on a leadoff home run by Gevas, his seventh of the year, and a run-scoring groundout by Efren Esparza (Dominguez HS). After Pomona scored a run in the third, the Toros took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on a throwing error by Bronco shortstop Anthony Gonzales followed by a Frank Perez (Banning HS) RBI single.

CPP cut it to 4-3 with two runs in the fourth on a Victor Yoshida 2-run double. It stayed that way until the top of the sixth when Stevens single up the middle tied the game scoring Gonzales who led off the inning with a double. After Stevens was moved over to second, Stuck gave the Broncos a 5-4 lead with a single through the left side of the infield scoring Stevens.

Pomona added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Waninger to take a 6-4 lead. But the Toros managed to tie the game with two runs in the bottom of the stanza to force extra innings. With two outs and runners on first and second, Salazar hit a long single to right field scoring both runners making it 6-6.

After the Broncos went down in order in the top of the eighth, David Keesee led off the bottom of the inning with his second home run of the day, this time a walk-off blast to left-center field, to give CSUDH the come-from-behind 7-6 victory.

Freshman Chris Abbott (1-0) earned his first collegiate victory in relief going 1.1 shutout innings allowing only one hit. Junior starter Larry Robles (Mary Star HS) got the no-decision going the first 6.2 innings allowing all six runs on 10 hits while striking out eight.

The Toros are in exhibition action hosting Keio University (JPN) on Monday beginning at 2:30 PM. The squad will then play UC San Diego in a four-game series beginning in Carson on Thursday with a single game starting at 2:30 PM.