Cal State L.A. Baseball Scores in Bottom of the Ninth to Beat Cal State Dominguez Hills, 5-4
February 24, 2004

Courtesy Cal State L.A. Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES - Cal State L.A. center fielder Mike Miller went 3-for-5 with two runs and two stolen bases and sophomore righty Philip Springman pitched two innings of hitless relief as the Golden Eagles knocked off Cal State Dominguez Hills on Tuesday afternoon at Reeder Field, 5-4.

CSULA improves to 9-4, 5-3 CCAA, while CSUDH falls to 5-12, 1-7 CCAA. With the win, Cal State L.A. has now won four of the five games between the crosstown rivals this year, including three of the four contests in conference play.

CSULA got on the board with two runs in each of the first two innings. Miller opened the game with a double to right field and scored two batters later on a Tim Wilkerson grounder. The Golden Eagles added another run in the first inning when Rafael Arroyo, who walked with one out, came around to score on Das Jesson's single to right.

CSULA added another two runs in the second inning, getting a one-out triple by Matt Beard followed by a sac fly by Matt Winkelman. Miller notched a two-out single, stole second, and came all the way around when an errant pickoff throw from the mound sailed into center field and give CSULA a 4-0 lead.

The Toros scored one lone run in the third then plated three in the top of the seventh inning off CSULA reliever Kyle Schneider, using four-straight singles to center field plus a long sac fly to the warning track - on which CSULA left fielder Tommy Owen made a spectacular diving catch to save at least one run - as the visitors tied the game at 4-4.

Cal State L.A. loaded the bases in both the seventh and eighth innings, but could not push the go-ahead run across the plate. Finally, the Golden Eagles broke through in the bottom of the ninth, all with two outs. Justin Brewer walked then went to third base on Jeff Carroll's single to right field. Carroll would advance to second a couple of pitches later on catcher's indifference, giving Tommy Owen the winning run 90 feet away. Owen grounded to shortstop, but CSUDH's Chris Martinez sailed the throw into the Toro dugout, allowing Brewer to cross the plate with the winning run.

Miller went 3-for-5 while Jesson, Carroll and Winkelman each notched two hits for the Golden Eagles. Cody Wilkinson pitched a gem for the first six innings, scattering seven hits while allowing just one run and fanning nine batters in a no-decision. Springman did not allow a hit in his two innings of relief to pickup the win, improving to 3-0 on the year.

CSUDH's James Dodson (1-1) earned the loss.

Cal State Dominguez Hills will next face Cal State San Bernardino when the Coyotes come calling at Toro Field for games Thursday and Friday.