Toros Softball Drops Two of Three to Cal State San Bernardino
Dani Proctor delivers game-winning RBI in 1-0 opener on senior day, but CSUDH falls in 3-1 nightcap and 6-5 in a resumed game from March 6
May 1, 2004

May 1 was Senior Day at CSUDH's Toro Diamond, and the the Toros' seniors were honored before the games. Left to right: Ally Williams, Nina Distefano, Natalie Sharp, Dani Proctor (Williams and Eistefano will graduate in December)

Complete Box Scores
Game 1       Game 2
Suspended game

Carson, CA -- On senior day at Toro Diamond, Cal State Dominguez Hills senior Dani Proctor (La Crescenta, CA/La Crescenta HS) fittingly delivered the game-winning RBI in the Toros' 1-0 win over visiting Cal State San Bernardino in Saturday's opening game, but the Coyotes took a 3-1 nightcap decision to split the twinbill after CSUSB captured a 6-5 victory in an earlier game that was resumed from a March 6 date in San Bernardino.

With the two losses, CSUDH falls to 32-20-1, 18-18 CCAA, while CSUSB improves to 15-39, 10-26 CCAA.

Game one of the regularly scheduled twinbill saw starters Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary's HS) and Melissa Olvera match one another pitch for pitch, each allowing only one hit through four innings. CSUDH would mount a charge in the fifth inning, putting runners at first and third bases with none out, but aggressive base-running at third by pinch-runner Genvielle DeCicco (Fountain Valley, CA/Trabuco Hills HS) on a Jenny Funk (Long Beach, CA/St. Joseph HS) sacrifice bunt went for naught, as DeCicco was doubled up at home to quell the rally.

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After leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, the Toros finally broke through in the bottom of the eight inning. In that frame, speedster Cindy Perry (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS) reached base on a Coyote fielding error and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. One out later, Proctor came through in the clutch, lining a single up the middle to score Perry and give the Toros the 1-0 win.

Long was magnificent, allowing only a first-inning single as part of her complete-game one-hit shutout victory, her seventh shutout of the season (13-2). She retired 12-consecutive Coyotes at one point, and the side in order in five of the eight innings, fanning four while walking none.

Proctor lined two hits to lead the Toros, while Coyote Tami James earned the only hit of the game for CSUSB.

Coyote starter Olvera tossed the entire game in taking the loss (5-5).

CSUSB started early in the nightcap as a bases-loaded single by Nicole Gomez and a Toro error led to a Coyote 2-0 lead.

CSUDH starter Lisa Grove (Buena Park, CA/Kennedy HS) settled down after the inning, allowing two hits over the next five frames. The Toros had a chance to score in the fifth, using two walks and an infield single to load the bases, but CSUSB starter Dawn Onishi induced Lori Moreno (Los Angeles, CA/California HS) to line out to Coyote shortstop Krista Hernandez for the final out.

CSUSB added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as Christina Vaughn launched her fourth home run of the year, giving Onishi a 3-0 cushion heading into the Toros' final at-bat. Grove got one run back quickly, leading off the frame with her fifth home run of the year, a line-drive to right-center field which set a new CSUDH single-season record. An ensuing Natalie Sharp (Whittier, CA/California HS) single gave the Toros hope, but a double play stopped the rally in its tracks, allowing Onishi to retire Kim O'Hanian (Norwalk, CA/St. Paul HS) on a grounder for the final out.

Grove threw all seven innings in the 3-1 loss (12-6), while Onishi tossed a complete game for CSUSB (7-20).

Offensively, Perry led the Toros with two hits, while James went 3-for-3 to pace the Coyotes.

In the 5-5 resumed game, the Coyotes wasted no time in scoring as they batted in the bottom of their 10th inning. After Hernandez drew a one-out walk, she stole second and was brought home by Vaughn's RBI single to center field.

O'Hanian threw the final 2.1 innings in the loss (2-4), while CSUSB's Olvera threw one inning in the 6-5 win (5-4).

As the No. 6 seed in the West Region, the Toros await their fate as the NCAA will announce the six schools that qualify, the host institution and matchups on Monday, May 3.