Toros Sputter Offensively, Drop Final Game to Warriors
April 25, 2004

Complete Box Score

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills concluded its four game series with Cal State Stanislaus by dropping the final game 3-1, and the series ends in a 2-2 tie. Pitching was the name of the game today, with both starters going the distance for dual complete games. Toros starter sophomore Chris Abbott (Tujunga, CA/Pasadena HS) allowed three runs on eight hits while striking out three, while his rival Stanislaus starter John Sothern allowed one run on seven while striking out six.

With the loss the CSUDH drop to 15-46, 9-31 CCAA and Stanislaus improves to 12-31-1, 9-31-1 CCAA.

The Warriors struck quickly with the lead off man Cody Crossman hitting a single to left field, and then to stealing second to put himself in scoring position. After getting the second batter to fly out to left field the Warriors stuck their first blow on a one out double by first baseman Jason Louis to left field to take an early 1-0 lead.

The score would stay the same until the first pitch of the fourth inning when Josh Burnett jumped on it and sent it over the left field fence. Stanislaus would tack on one more run that inning on a sacrifice fly by Mike Gonzalez scoring Ismael Mercado.

After giving up three runs through the first fourth innings Abbott would shut down the Warriors for the rest of the game, only allowing three more hits on his way to a complete game.

Offensively the Toros were not the same team as yesterday which hammered Stanislaus pitching for a total of 23 runs on 35 hits. Stanislaus starter John Sothern was on auto pilot for most of the game, allowing only four hits and striking out five through his first eight innings of work.

The only spot of trouble came in the third inning when Sothern gave up a two out triple down the left field line to Chris Martinez (Torrance, CA/South HS), and walked the next batter Zac Cort (El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) to put runner on first and third. However, he got himself out of jam by getting the next batter to ground out to third to end the inning. After that Sothern kept the bats for the Toros would remain relatively silent for the next five innings, only giving up three hits.

The Toros would try and rally in the bottom of the ninth on a two out pinch hit single by freshman Pedro Montero (San Fernando, CA/San Fernando HS) to left field followed by a single up the middle by Martinez for his second hit of the day. With the count 2-2 Cort hit a bullet down the left field line for a double to drive home Montero for the Toros lone run of the day. The next batter struck out swing to end the rally and the game for Dominguez Hills.

With this game the CSUDH concluded their conference play for the year, ending with a record of 9-31. However, the Toros season is not yet finished, they will conclude their 2004 season with a non-conference home game Fresno Pacific University. This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams. This final game is scheduled for Saturday May, 1, with the first pitch at 1:00 pm.