Montes Hits for Cycle, Toros Sweep Hawaii Pacific in Twinbill
Jose Montes becomes first CSUDH player in 30-year program history to hit for cycle as Toros sweep HPU
April 9, 2002

Complete Box Score - Game 1

Complete Box Score - Game 2

LOS ANGELES, Calif.-Jose Montes became the first player in Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball history to hit for the cycle in the second game of today's non-conference doubleheader against Hawaii Pacific. Montes led the Toros with 5 RBI to lead the squad to a 24-8 win in the nightcap. The early game was not without excitement as well, as 1B Danny Jacobs hit a walkoff grand slam in the bottom of the seventh to give CSUDH a 10-9 come-from-behind victory against the Sea Warriors at Dennis Gilbert Field on the campus of LA Southwest College.

In the first game, Hawaii Pacific took an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by 3B Jonathan Torres in the first inning. HPU made it 5-0 in the second on a 2-run double by CF T.C. Everett followed by an RBI triple from C Shay Hirota and an RBI single by 2B Wade Taguchi. But the Toros answered back in the bottom of the inning pushing across 4 runs on LF Damon Felder's first home run of the season, a 3-run home run to deep left field, and an RBI single by SS David Keesse to make it 5-4.

It stayed that way until the seventh when the Sea Warriors took apparent control of the game with 4 runs in the inning. DH Ikaika DuPont's RBI double preceded Torres' 3-run home run to give HPU a 9-4 lead.

In the bottom of the stanza, C Edgar Esqueda hit an RBI single and was followed two batters lately by Jose Montes' sacrifice fly trimming the deficit to 9-6. After 3B Damien Lopez was hit to load the bases, Danny Jacobs stepped to the plate and launched a grand slam to right field for the game-winning hit. It was the third game in a row that the Toros had gotten a walkoff game-winning hit to end the game.

LHP Raul Claros (1-0) earned the win in relief pitching the final 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits. Esqueda led the squad with 3 hits in the game while Jacobs and Felder had 4 and 3 RBI respectively.

In the second game, the Toros took control early scoring 11 runs in the first three innings. HPU took an early 3-0 lead on an error and RBI singles by Taguchi and Rosa. But the Toros answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the first on bases loaded walks to Jacobs and DH Michael Gray to make it 3-2.

CSUDH (27-18-1) made it 8-3 with 6 runs in the second on a 2-run triple by Montes, an RBI single by CF Jason Pruitt and a 3-run home run by Damien Lopez. The Toros tacked on 3 more runs in the third on Montes' third hit in the game, a 2-run homer, and an RBI single by Gray giving the home team an 11-3 cushion.

Hawaii Pacific (18-26) trimmed the lead to 11-6 with 3 runs in the fourth on a two-run double by RF Andrew Stith, followed two batters later by an RBI double by Taguchi. But CSUDH answered once again with 7 runs in the bottom of the inning sending 10 batters to the plate. Montes finished his cycle with an RBI single up the middle followed by RBI singles from Jacobs and Lopez. Jason Pruitt capped the scoring in the inning with a 3-run blast to right field making it 18-6.

The Toros took a 24-6 lead with 6 runs in the fifth on a 3-run triple by Michael Gray, a wild pitch and a two-run triple down the right field line by SS Eric Pringle. HPU would score 2 runs in the sixth but that was all the scoring the rest of the way as CSUDH goes on for the sweep.

RHP Don Bracken (3-3) earned the win going the first 5 innings allowing 6 runs on 6 hits. Montes led the squad with 5 RBI going 4-4 on the day. The order of his cycle was: double, triple, home run and single. Gray also had 5 RBI in the game.

The Toros will host a crucial four-game CCAA series with UC Davis beginning on Friday. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.