Eda's Walk-Off Home Run Lifts CSUDH Over Cal Poly Pomona, 5-3
Eda connects for seventh homer of season to propel Toros over Broncos in CCAA game
March 25, 2005

Complete Box Score

CARSON, Calif.--(March 25, 2005)--Senior outfielder Ricky Eda (Palos Verdes/Peninsula HS) led Cal State Dominguez Hills to an exciting 5-3 win over visiting Cal Poly Pomona after a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth in California Collegiate Athletic Association action Friday afternoon at Toro Field.

Ricky Eda hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Toros to a 5-3 win over Cal Poly Pomona Friday afternoon. Photo by Michael Foo

The game was knotted at two runs apiece through eight innings. But Cal Poly Pomona (15-12, 13-7 CCAA) broke out on top with a run in the top of the ninth to take a 3-2 lead after an RBI single by Matt Stevens. With Pomona's starter and ace Taylor Wilding on the mound still, and seemingly cruising, CSUDH (11-15, 6-12 CCAA) chipped away to tie the game, before Eda connected for his seventh home run of the year. In the ninth for the Toros, Jose Montes (Pacoima/San Fernando HS) led off with a walk before shortstop David Leos (Los Angeles/Venice HS) sacrificed him over to second with a bunt. Second baseman Houston Hernandez (La Mirada/St. Paul HS) drove home Montes for the tying run with an RBI single to right field.

Eda, who finished the day 2 for 4 at the plate with two RBI, stepped up to the plate and Wilding blew two fastballs by him to get ahead in the count. On his next pitch, Wilding (6-2) tried to sneak an inside fast ball past the senior outfielder, but Eda jumped all over it this time with a long, deep fly ball way over the center field wall to send the Toros home with a 5-3 win.

Junior lefty Ryan Owen (Riverside/W. Torrance HS), who ha been strong out of the pen after coming out of the starting rotation, pitched 2.1 innings of relief to earn his third win of the year. Owen (3-2) allowed one run on one hit while striking out two. Toro starter Jason Garcia (South Gate/LA Harbor JC) went the first 6.2 strong innings allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out four.

Outfielder Isidro Perez (South Gate/LA Harbor JC) and Hernandez also collected two hits on the day to lead the Toros at the plate.

Stevens and Greg Denning led Cal Poly Pomona with two hits apiece. Denning also blasted his second home run of the year, a solo shot in the fifth inning to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead. Wilding, despite pitching extremely well, suffered the loss going 8.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out eight Toro batters.

These same two teams will finish off the three-game set with a doubleheader tomorrow here at Toro Field beginning at 11 AM.