Montes, Valle Power Toros to Win Over Concordia, 7-2
Jose Montes and Frankie Valle each hit homeruns to lead CSUDH to non-conference win
February 10, 2004

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--Jose Montes (Pacoima/San Fernando HS) and Frankie Valle (Whittier/Santa Fe HS) each hit homeruns to lead Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 7-2 victory over Concordia University (CA) Tuesday afternoon in non-conference baseball action at Toro Field.

Zac Cort led the Toros Tuesday at the plate with three hits and two runs scored. (File photo)

CSUDH (3-3) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly off the bat of LF Jason Flores (Whittier/St. Paul HS) followed one out later by a solo homerun by Montes to deep centerfield for his third homerun of the season.

The Toros took a 3-0 lead in the third when with two outs, 3B Ruben Salazar (Lynwood/St. John Bosco HS) reached on a single. After he was balked over the second base by Eagle pitcher Davin Morita, Montes knocked in his second run of the game with a single to rightfield.

Concordia (1-5) cut the lead to 3-2 with two runs in the seventh. C John Abdelkarim and LF Chaz Carlson led off the inning with back-to-back doubles. One out later, 2B Christian Martinez knocked in Carlson with a single to rightfield making it 3-2. But Toro reliever Fred Medina (Santa Ana/Century HS) induced a fielder's choice then struck out 3B David Lopez to end the threat and the inning.

The Toros got both runs back in the bottom of the seventh when with two outs, RF Zac Cort (El Cerrito/El Cerrito HS) reached on a bunt single to the pitcher. He then scored when Flores drove in his second run of the game on a triple to the left-center field gap. Flores then scored when reliever Joel Schelling was called for a balk to make it 5-2.

Cal State Dominguez Hills put two more runs on the board in the eighth when Valle hit a pinch-hit two-run homerun deep over the rightfield wall to close out the scoring. The blast was Valle's first round-tripper of the young season.

Toro starter Ryan Owen (1-1) was the pitcher of record and earned his first win of the year. Owen tossed the first 3.0 innings allowing only one hit while striking out four batters. RHP Gustavo Hernandez (Lynwood/Lynwood HS) was solid in relief tossing the next three shutout innings. Freshman RHP Ryan Smith (Long Beach/Millikan HS) came on in the eighth to record his first career collegiate save. Smith went 2.0 innings giving up two hits while striking out one to preserve the win.

CSUDH was led at the plate by Montes and Valle who each knocked in two runs. Cort led the squad with three hits in four trips to the plate. Ruben Salazar finished the day going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

For Concordia, Morita suffered the loss going the first 6.0 innings allowing three runs on seven hits. The Eagles were led offensively by Abdelkarim and Martinez with two hits apiece.

Cal State Dominguez Hill is back in action tomorrow travelling to La Mirada to take on Biola University. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM.