Big Inning by CSULA Again Proves Costly to Toros As Golden Eagles Take Baseball Win
February 21, 2004

Courtesy Cal State L.A. Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES -- Cal State L.A. defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday afternoon at Reeder Field, 19-9, in a CCAA baseball contest. CSULA improves to 8-4, 4-3 CCAA, while CSUDH falls to 5-10, 1-6 CCAA.

The second game of Saturday's originally scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to continual rain in the area. A makeup date for that final game of the four-game series between the Golden Eagles and Toros will be announced at a later date.

CSUDH got on the board with runs in the top of the first and second innings as an RBI single by Daniel Pilimai and a solo homer by David Leos gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. Cal State L.A. answered with four runs in the bottom of the second, including an RBI triple by Matt Winkleman as well as RBIs by Mike Miller and Rafael Arroyo for a 4-2 Golden Eagle advantage.

The second inning also saw CSUDH starting pitcher Trevor Renck ejected from the game after a hit batsman and two more pitches thrown well behind a Golden Eagle hitter.

Cal State L.A. extended the lead to 6-2 as Justin Brewer launched his third homer of the year down the right field line, scoring Mateo Marquez who opened the frame with a walk.

The Toros tied the game with four runs in the top of the fourth, including a two-RBI single by Joey Caira, but Cal State L.A. answered back with an RBI double by Arroyo off the top of the wall in left field, scoring Miller to give CSULA a 7-6 edge.

The teams traded the lead in both halves of the fifth inning. CSUDH opened with two runs in the top half of the inning, but it could have been many more runs. With one out and runners on second and third, Pilimai singled to center, scoring Fred Medina and what looked to also be a run scored by Caira, who was at second base. Pilimai was caught in a rundown between first and second base and tagged for the second out. CSULA successfully appealed Caira's failing to touch third base for the third out of the inning. CSUDH head coach George Wing argued the call and was eventually ejected from the game.

CSULA responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, taking the lead for good at 11-8. Das Jesson opened the inning with a walk and scored on Brewer's double. After Carroll was hit by a pitch -- one of three times Carroll was plunked in this game -- and a walk to Winkleman, Miller crushed a fastball off the 406 foot sign in dead center field, scoring Brewer and Carroll in the process. The Toros closed the gap to 11-9 on another RBI single by Caira, scoring Zac Cort, who had singled with one out.

The Golden Eagles put the game away in the seventh inning, scoring seven runs in the frame to take an 18-9 lead, duplicating Thursday's feat of scoring seven runs in the seventh inning. After Miller lined out to open the inning, Cal State L.A. pieced together five-straight hits by Kyle Williams, Arroyo, Tim Wilkerson, Jesson and Matt Beard, scoring three runs in the process. After Brewer fanned for the second out, Carroll singled up the middle to score Jesson and Beard, and would come home on Winkleman's first career homer.

Cal State L.A. added a final tally in the eighth as Arroyo launched one over the left field wall for his fifth homer of the season.

Lost in the offensive explosion was the performance by Eric Biddlecome out of the CSULA bullpen. Biddlecome pitched the final 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs to improve to 2-0 on the year. Brandon Higelin started for CSULA, allowing nine hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings.

CSUDH sent eight pitchers to the mound, with Roberto Esparza (0-1) taking the loss for the Toros.

Six Golden Eagles tallied multiple hits, led by Jesson (3-4, 3 runs, 1 RBI) and Arroyo (3-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI). Miller went 2-for-5 with two runs, three RBIs and three stolen bases, improving to 10-for-10 on the basepaths this season. Williams went 2-for-5 while Brewer (2-6, 2 runs, 3 RBI) and Winkleman (2-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI) also starred at the plate.

Caira paced the Toros with a 3-for-5, four RBI effort while Cort went an impressive 3-for-4 with four runs out of the leadoff spot.

Next up for the CSUDH baseball team is a home game with Biola, and they come calling Monday afternoon.