Toros Baseball Splits Pair of One-Run Games Against Hawaii Pacific
CSUDH takes 7-6 extra inning opener, but falls 10-9 in nightcap
April 2, 2005

Complete Box Scores
Game 1          Game 2

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills and visiting Hawaii Pacific continued to flex their offensive muscles, combining for 32 runs in an afternoon doubleheader that saw the Toros take an extra inning 7-6 victory in game one, but fall 10-9 in the nightcap. With the split, CSUDH moves to 15-18, while HPU now stands at 20-11.

The Toros took a 4-1 lead after two innings in the opener, with three runs coming in the 2nd inning courtesy of a Ricky Eda (Palos Verdes, CA/LA Harbor JC) RBI single and an Isidro Perez (South Gate, CA/LA Harbor JC) 2-run home run. The Sea Warriors would respond with five unanswered runs over the next three innings, the big blow coming on a 2-RBI double off the bat of Chase Nakamura in the 4th frame, but the Toros would score two in the 6th to knot the game at 6-6.

CSUDH would capture the game two innings later as a Houston Hernandez (La Mirada, CA/St. Paul HS) leadoff single and two walks would set the table for Jose Montes (Pacoima, CA/San Fernando HS), who would reach on a throwing error by the HPU shortstop, allowing pinch-runner Fred Medina (Santa Ana, CA/Century HS) to score the game-winner.

Hernandez and Armando Gomez (Playa del Rey, CA/LA Harbor JC) led the Toros with two hits apiece while Perez and Eda combined to drive in five RBI. James Dodson (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood HS) threw one inning of relief to pick up the win (3-2) while HPU’s Mario Ramirez (3-2) suffered the hard-luck loss. Spencer Omalza led the Sea Warriors with three hits while Nakamura and Danny Lee each drove in two runs.

After committing three errors in the top of the 1st inning to spot HPU an 8-0 cushion, the Toros fought back, cutting the deficit in half as a Matt Hopps (Torrance, CA/South HS) bomb over the left field wall accounted for three of the four runs in the inning. Both pitching staffs would settle down after the 1st inning barrage, with HPU scoring single runs in the 3rd and 4th frames, while the Toros would respond with one run in the bottom of the 4th.

The score remained 10-5 heading into the bottom of the 7th, when CSUDH’s bats again would get hot. Montes and Ian Corso (Thousand Oaks, CA/CS Stanislaus) brought the Toros to within three runs by blasting back-to-back home runs with one out.

After David Leos (Los Angeles, CA/LA City College) continued the rally with a bloop double down the right field line, Hopps struck again, hammering a non-breaking curve ball to left field, bringing the Toros to within 10-9.

HPU reliever Josh Guerra entered to stop the bleeding, and proceeded to retire the next two Toros for the save (1). HPU starter Cruz Hatanaka lasted 6.1 innings, allowing all nine runs and 13 hits to take the win (2-3).

Brandon Sato and Greg Benoit paced HPU with three hits apiece, while Michael Kealoha connected for two hits and three RBI, all coming in the error-filled 1st inning.

CSUDH starter Gary Scott (Redondo Beach, CA/Redondo Union HS) retired only one batter in taking the loss (2-3), while Leos, who enjoyed a 3-for-4 afternoon, and Hopps, who blasted two home runs and drove in five, were the offensive stars for the Toros.

The two teams finish their five-game set with a single game tomorrow afternoon on Toro Field, with first pitch scheduled for a 12 noon start.