Toros Softball Stages Furious Game One Rally, Leading to Sweep of Hawaii-Hilo
CSUDH scores four runs in final at-bat of 5-2 game one win before Valerie Long shuts down Vulcans in nightcap, 1-0
April 22, 2004

Complete Box Scores
Game 1       Game 2

Hilo, HI -- Cal State Dominguez Hills' Crystal Dingman (Sunland, CA/Verdugo HS) and Natalie Sharp (Whittier, CA/California HS) led the Toros to four runs in the top of the seventh inning en route to a furious come-from-behind 5-2 game one victory, before Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary's HS) scattered just six hits in the nightcap as the Toros won 1-0, sweeping the first two games of the four-game set against Hawaii Hilo in a Thursday afternoon twinbill in Hilo.

With the wins, the Toros jump to 29-18-1, while UHH drops to 25-17.

The hosts took a quick 2-0 lead in game one as one hit and one Toro error plated two Vulcans off starter Lisa Grove (Buena Park, CA/Kennedy HS). The Vulcans' Tara Martinez cruised, scattering five hits over the first five innings to make UHH's 2-0 lead stand up.

CSUDH's bats came alive in the sixth inning, however, as Dingman began the Toro scoring by singling up the middle to bring home Dani Proctor (La Crescenta, CA/La Crescenta HS), who doubled with one out, setting the stage for the Toros' final at-bats.

In the top of the seventh, Kim O'Hanian (Norwalk, CA/St. Paul HS) began the Toro heroics by stinging a leadoff single up the middle. Two outs later, after Lori Moreno (Los Angeles, CA/California HS) lined a single through the right side, a Vulcan fielding error allowed Proctor to reach base, loading the bases.

Dingman capitalized on the miscue, working the count to 3-2 before hammering a double to left center field, scoring O'Hanian and Moreno to give the Toros their first lead of the day. Sharp kept momentum in Cardinal Red & Gold, lining a single to right field to plate Proctor and Dingman, giving CSUDH a three-run cushion.

Grove (12-5) grew stronger as the game progressed, retiring the Vulcans in order in the bottom of the seventh, all three outs courtesy of shortstop Sharp, and giving the Toros a 5-2 game one victory. Dingman, Sharp, Proctor Moreno and O'Hanian each belted two hits for the Toros, while Dingman registering a game-high 3 RBI. Vulcan starter Martinez (7-9) went all seven innings, allowing 12 Toro hits and only one earned run. Natalie Fujimoto led the Vulcans with two hits.

Long was the story in the nightcap as she scattered six hits to improve to 12-2 on the season. The 5' 4" junior was in command as she fanned five Vulcans without allowing a single walk. Offensively, CSUDH would get all the runs it would need in the top of the third as Proctor would cash in Cindy Perry (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS), who reached on a fielder's choice, on a single to left field.

Long cruised the rest of the way, limiting UHH to four hits over the final five innings in registering her sixth shutout of the year. Perry, Moreno and Grove paced the Toros with two hits apiece, while Vulcan Nancy Vega also tallied two hits to lead UHH.

The two teams continue their four-game set tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch of game one scheduled for a 12 noon start.