Daniel Pilimai and Ruben Salazar Lead Cal State Dominguez Hills to 8-7 Victory Over Cal State L.A.
Pilimai drives home game-winning run while Salazar clubs third homer of season
February 20, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills junior Daniel Pilimai (Sacramento, CA/Rockland HS) knocked home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, while fellow junior Ruben Salazar (Lynwood, CA/St. John Bosco HS) clubbed his third homerun of the season as the Toros won their first conference game of the year, taking an 8-7 decision over cross-town rival Cal State L.A. on a chilly and overcast Friday afternoon at Toro Field.

The Toros improve to 5-9, 1-5 CCAA, while the Golden Eagles fall to 7-4, 3-3 CCAA

Visiting CSULA scored early, staking starter Kyle Schneider to a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. In that frame, however, CSUDH began its comeback, scoring two runs courtesy of a David Leos (Los Angeles, CA/LACC) RBI single and a Zac Cort (El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) RBI on a fielder's choice, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.

The Toros would capitalize on their momentum, scoring a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and three runs in the seventh, courtesy of Salazar's third long-ball of the season, a blast over the left-center field fence that drove home Cort and Joey Caira (La Palma, CA/Kennedy HS), who singled and walked, respectively, to begin the inning.

The Golden Eagles would rally in their top of the eighth inning, stringing together four hits to tie the game at 7-7, and setting up the Toro heroics in the bottom of the ninth. After a Caira leadoff single and Salazar walk started the ninth inning, a pickoff at second base and subsequent wild pitch brought Salazar to second base. The Toros then inserted pinch runner Pedro Montero (San Fernando, CA/San Fernando HS) into the game, and Pilimai did the rest, stroking a bloop single to center field that allowed Montero to race home with the winning run.

CSUDH starter Gus Hernandez (Lynwood, CA/Lynwood HS) threw 3.2 innings and allowed four earned runs, while CSULA's Schneider hurled 7.0 innings, allowing six earned runs, with neither earning a decision. CSULA reliever Craig Eagle threw the eighth inning and faced two batters in the ninth frame, walking what would prove to be the game-winning runner, to take his first loss of the year (0-1). CSUDH's Ryan Smith (Long Beach, CA/Millikan HS) recorded the final four outs to pick up his first win of the season (1-0).

The Toros' Salazar, Caira, Jose Montes (Pacoima, CA/San Fernando HS) and Scott Keiper (Los Angeles, CA/ELAC) each pounded two hits as CSUDH connected for 14 hits in the game, while CSULA's Kyle Williams, Tim Wilkerson and Jeff Carroll paced the Golden Eagles with two hits apiece, including Carroll's second homer of the season.

The Toros conclude this four-game set tomorrow as they travel to Cal State L.A.'s Reeder Field for an afternoon doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 noon.-