Keio University (Japan) KOs Toros as CSUDH Baseball Falls in Exhibition, 6-3
Escobar blasts two-run homer in goodwill demonstration
March 8, 2006

Carson, CA- In a friendly battle between East and West, Japan’s Keio University used a 5th inning grand-slam by Hironori Kanamori to right center field to KO the Toros and come away with a 6-3 exhibition victory.

The visitors from Japan’s Keio University pose with their Cal State Dominguez Hills hosts after the exhibition game. KU took a 6-3 win.

The visitors from Japan got on the board in the 2nd inning, using a one-out single to right by Ko Inomata, to drive in two Keio runners.

Keio lefty starter Tomoyuki Moriguchi would keep the CSUDH offense off the base paths, allowing only one hit and issuing one walk while striking out six batters through five innings of work.

In the 5th, Kanamori would step into the batter’s box with the bases loaded and take the offering from the Toros Chris Abbott (Pasadena, CA/Pasadena HS) and drive it over the wall in right center field to hand CSUDH a knockout offering.

Keio coach Tsutomu Aiba is pictured with CSUDH athletics director Pat Guillen exchanging business cards before the game.

Mikinori Mato would enter the game for Keio in the 6th and continue to baffle the Toro hitters, striking out four batters, and allowing no hits and no walks in two innings.

CSUDH would finally solve the Keio pitching puzzle in the 8th when utility man Jose Escobar (Palm Springs, CA/Palm Springs HS) blasted a ball over the field in left center with a runner aboard. CSUDH would tack on another run in the inning to cut the lead to 6-3, where the score would remain for the rest of the ballgame.

Despite the four runs scored by the visitors, the Toro pitching staff only allowed four hits. However, they issued three base on balls and hit three batters, which accounted for most of the Keio base runners.

CSUDH returns to conference action this weekend as they travel to Chico for a match-up against 3rd-ranked Chico State, with the first game of the four-game set scheduled for Friday, March 10 at 6:00 pm. The Toros then return home on Friday, March 24 to take on the Gators of San Francisco State, with the first pitch slated for 2:00 pm on Toro Field.