CCAA-Leading Toros Softball Sweeps UC San Diego, 11-3 and 9-3
CSUDH hammers five home runs in twin bill, including two apiece by Miller and Reyes
April 10, 2005

Complete Box Scores
Game 1        Game 2

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills juniors Jackie Miller (Bremerton, WA/Central Kitsap HS/CS Stanislaus) and Linda Reyes (Garden Grove, CA/Pacifica HS/St. John’s) each hammered two home runs in game one while Pebbel Prestwood (Hesperia, CA/Sultana HS/CS Stanislaus) went deep in the nightcap as the Toros took two from visiting UC San Diego in a Sunday afternoon doubleheader, 11-3 and 9-3.

With the two wins, the Toros improve to 33-7, 18-4 CCAA and increase their conference lead to 1.5 games over second-place San Francisco State, while the Tritons fall to 15-21, 9-14 CCAA.

After spotting UCSD a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Miller followed a Kate Groden (San Pedro, CA/San Pedro HS/SE Missouri Univ.) RBI single with a tape-measure shot well over the left field fence to start the comeback, her fourth home run in as many games. Two innings later with CSUDH up 3-2, Miller stepped up to the plate with runners on first and second base, and connected for her second home run of the game to extend the lead to 6-2.

The Tritons would tally a single run in their top of the 4th, but Reyes’ contributions in the power department would keep UCSD’s rally short-lived. In the Toros’ 4th inning at-bat, Reyes sent a line drove over the center field fence for two of the three runs to cross the plate in the frame, and would complete her stellar game two innings later as a Miller walk would precede the Garden Grove native’s second long ball of the contest, ending the game via the run rule.

That was more than enough for CSUDH starter Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary’s HS), whose 6.0 innings of work scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs was good enough for her 15th win of the season (15-3). The Stockton native fanned nine batters against only two walks, and benefited from the hot bats of Miller, Reyes, Cindy Perry (Victorville, CA/Silverado HS) and Groden, the last two combining for five hits, four runs scored and three RBI. UCSD’s Niki Anderson led the Tritons with two hits and two RBI as Triton starter Melissa Ward lasted only 2.1 innings of work in the loss (4-7).

Game two looked to mirror the opener as the Tritons took an early 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning off CSUDH starter Miller, courtesy of a leadoff home run by Jamie Hurst and a Breanne Cope 2 RBI single up the middle. The Toros, however, again would respond, sending 10 batters to the plate and bringing home five runs in their bottom half of the inning. The Toros capitalized on an Triton starter Tina Rowe’s control problems in the frame as they walked four times, including two with the bases full, and benefited on a costly UCSD error to keep the inning alive.

Both pitchers would settle down following the 2nd inning, but CSUDH would get to Rowe again in the 5th and 6th innings, touching her for four runs over that stretch. After a Jennifer Funk (Long Beach, CA/St. Joseph HS/San Diego State) RBI single increased CSUDH’s lead to 6-3 after five, Prestwood blasted a 3-run home run to left field one inning later, putting the game out of reach. Prestwood was the only Toro to enjoy a multiple-hit game, while Funk drove home two runs in the win.

Prestwood’s blast gave CSUDH at least one home run in in six-consecutive games, during which the Toros have hammered 17 home runs total, including five by Miller, who earned her 12th win of the year in the nightcap (12-3). UCSD’s Jenny Maze paced the Tritons with two hits, while starter Rowe threw 6.0 innings in the loss (7-9).

The Toros continue their conference schedule next week, hosting CCAA power San Francisco State on Friday, April 15. First pitch of game one’s twin bill is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Toro Diamond.