CSUDH Baseball Weekly Release
January 31, 2002

THIS WEEK IN TOROS BASEBALL
Feb. 6 CSUDH @ Vanguard University VU Field, 2 PM
Feb. 7 CSUDH vs. Vanguard University Toro Field, 2 PM
Feb. 9 CSUDH vs. Concordia University (DH) Toro Field, 11 AM

WHAT'S ON TAP: After opening their 2002 season with a victory at Biola, the Toros will play a single game against Vanguard University on Wednesday in Costa Mesa before opening the home schedule against Vanguard on Thursday at Toro Field. The squad will also face Concordia (CA) in a twinbill on Saturday at home.

TOROS WIN SEASON OPENER OVER BIOLA: Cal State Dominguez Hills used a 5-run fifth inning and a 16-hit attack to defeat NAIA No. 8-ranked Biola University in their 2002 season opener in La Mirada last Saturday by a score of 14-5. The Toros (1-0) got on the board early with two runs in the first on a two-out two run RBI single by 1B Danny Jacobs. Biola answered with a run in the first then took the lead 3-2 with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. CSUDH 3B Damien Lopez tied the game in the third with an RBI single down the third base line. LF Jason Pruitt's two-out solo blast to right field in the fourth inning gave the Toros the lead for good 4-3. Cal State Dominguez Hills took control of the game with a 5-run fifth inning. The outburst was highlighted by 2B Jesus Hernandez' 2-run homer to left center field and a run scoring double by CF Mike Milstead to take a 9-3 lead. The Eagles would trim the lead to 9-5 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning before the Toros would answer back with two more in the top of the sixth. In that inning, CSUDH was aided by an error resulting both of the unearned runs to take a 11-5 lead. The Toros would cap the scoring with three runs in the seventh inning to account for the 14-5 final. In the inning, Pruitt hit a sacrifice fly scoring Jesus Hernandez who had reached on a leadoff double. The second run came on a Biola error which plated Joe Gevas from third base. Aldo Silva (1-0) earned the win in relief for CSUDH going 2-1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. LHP Steve Ressa came on in the seventh and pitched the final 2-2/3 shutout innings for the Toros. Junior RHP Chris Ingstad started for the Toros but was not involved in the decision. Ingstad went the first 4 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 7 batters.

SCOUTING THE LIONS: Vanguard enter's the week with a 1-5 record and are currently on a four-game losing streak. The Lions were swept in a doubleheader this past Saturday by Cal Lutheran 11-4 and 3-1. VU will host Whittier College before taking on the Toros in a home-and-home series beginning on Wednesday. Outfielder Chad Chop leads Vanguard batting .455 with 1 HR and 3 RBI and a .636 slugging percentage. Catcher Curt Garner follows hitting .400 and has a team-best .526 on-base percentage. As a team, the Lions are hitting .265 with 2 HR and 19 RBI. VU has been outscored 37-19 and are fielding at a .944 percentage. On the mound, RHP Britt Echols leads the starters with a 3.60 ERA striking out 12 batters in 10 innings. RHP Brian Wood comes out of the pen and has recorded a staff-best 2.45 ERA in 3.2 innings of play.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES: Concordia University enters this weekend's twinbill with a 4-2 record. The Eagles began the year on a 3-game win streak but have since lost two of the last three games. CU swept CCAA school Cal State LA, lost to Cal Poly Pomona (8-10) and split with UC San Diego. Catcher Hank Lobel leads the crew with a .565 average and 12 RBI. Outfielder Steve Kelly follows hitting .476 while infielder Dan Candela is hitting at a .440 clip. As a team, Concordia is batting .332. On the mound, RHP Steve Binnie leads the starters with a 1.29 ERA and a 1-0 record. LHP's Ryan Ferris (1-0) and Lance Fujii have come out of the pen twice and have yet to allow a run. The Eagle pitching staff is holding the opposition to a .259 batting average.

LEADING THE TOROS: The Toros are 1-0 after defeating Biola 14-5 in the season opener on Saturday. In the game, six players recorded multiple hits led by 2B Jesus Hernandez and 1B Danny Jacobs with three hits each. LF Jason Pruitt started his career in a Toros uniform on the right note going 2-3 in the game with 2 runs, 2 RBI and a solo home run. C Edgard Esqueda went 2-4 at the plate with 2 runs. The senior receiver is picking up where he left off last year when he three out nearly 50% of all potential base stealers. On Saturday, Esqueda threw out both baserunners that tested his arm. DH Frank Perez and 3B Damien Lopez each had two hits a piece. On the mound, RHP Chris Ingstad pitched the first four innings but was not involved in the decision. The junior hurler allowed 3 runs on 4 hits while striking out 7 batters. RHP Aldo Silva (1-0) came on in relief to earn the win tossing two innings allowing 2 runs. LHP Steve Ressa came on to earn the save pitching the final three scoreless innings allowing only one hit. As a team, CSUDH is hitting .390.

DEFENSE WILL BE KEY: The old saying in baseball is that pitching and defense win championships. Though it is too early in the season to conclude anything, if Saturday's game against Biola was any indication of how the CSUDH defense is going to perform this year, 2002 could be an exciting season. The Toros were flawless on the field committing no errors in 34 chances. Last year, CSUDH committed two errors in the first game and 96 total during the season; 12 more than the opposition. The left side of the infield seems to be improved with the addition of Lopez at the hot spot. Rangy Eric Pringle moves over to shortstop after playing most of the time at second base last year. Last year, the left side committed 50 errors during the campaign.

ROSTER BREAKDOWN: Of the 30 players on the 2002 CSUDH roster, 21 are upper classmen and nine are under classmen. Of the 21 upper classmen, six are seniors and 15 are juniors. Of the nine under classmen, three are freshmen and six are sophomore's.

THIS WEEK'S STARTERS ON THE HILL: Junior RHP Rick Moore (0-0)will make his CSUDH debut on Wednesday at Vanguard University. RHP Aldo Silva (1-0), who recorded the win in Saturday's game at Biola, will get his first start on Thursday against Vanguard at Toro Field. On Saturday in the twinbill against Concordia, RHP Chris Ingstad (0-0) will start the first game with LHP Brad Allen (0-0) making his 2002 debut in the nightcap.

HOME OPENERS: The Toros are 8-4-1 in season home openers during coach George Wing's 13-year tenure at CSUDH. After tying Master's College in his first home opener, Wing won the next seven openers at home. Over the past five seasons, his squads have notched a 1-4 record in home openers.

STRONG DEBUTS: Senior LF Jason Pruitt began his career in a Toros uniform on a strong note going 2-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI including a homer. Junior DH Frank Perez went 2-5 with 2 runs. Senior 3B Damien Lopez went 2-5 with 2 RBI in his Toros debut after transferring from San Francisco State. On the mound, RHP Aldo Silva threw two strong innings striking out two batters to earn the win in relief.

Current CCAA Season Standings

THE COACH: Head coach George Wing begins his 14th season at the helm of the CSUDH baseball program. Wing became the Toros all-time winningest coach last year when he notched his 300th victory against Albertson College 2-1 on February 20, 2001. His career mark now stands at 325-352-7 entering the 2002 season.

TOROS ON THE WEB: You can now access results, stories, statistics and other information about Toros soccer on the world wide web.

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