CSUDH Baseball Sweeps Double-Header Against Thunderbirds, 7-5 and 10-1
Mateo Marquez blasts three-run homer in nightcap
February 17, 2007

Complete Box Scores »» Game 1     Game 2

Carson, CA – The Toros rode a pair of strong pitching performances by James Dodson (Long Beach, CA/Lakewood HS) and Gus Hernandez (Lynwood, CA/Lynwood HS) to sweep both games of the double-header, and take three out of four from Division I Southern Utah University, 7-5 and 10-1. With the pair of wins CSUDH improves to 4-5-1 overall and SUU falls to 1-6.

In the opener, leadoff man Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) was plunked for the fourth time in the series and given the free pass to first in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Mateo Marquez (Biggs, CA/Cal State L.A.) would double to right center two batters later, and then be brought home along with Hunter on a double to left by Jerit Coleman (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach CC) to put the Toros up 2-0.

The Thunderbirds would counter in the top of the 3rd after a leadoff double down the left field line by Jacob Romney, who would be driven home on a single by Colby Ford. Joe Wright would drive home the second run of the game on a fielder’s choice, and SUU would take the lead at 3-2 one batter later on an RBI single by Chester Wilson.

The Toros offense would regain the lead in the bottom of the 5th on a single up the middle by Scott Moore (Upland, CA/Cal State L.A.) and a Thunderbird wild pitch allowing Chris Hunter (Vallejo, CA/Vallejo HS) to cross the plate.

After three walks to load the bases in the top of the 6th, Dodson would enter out of the pen with one out and shut down the Thunderbirds, striking out the first batter and then inducing an inning ending ground ball.

SUU would add a single run in the top of the 7th, but the Toros would push across three run of their own, two courtesy of a Marquez single up the middle.

Dodson would keep the SUU offense at bay for the rest of the game and pick up his first win of the season, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out three.

In the nightcap the Toros would start slow, but score one in the 2nd before erupting for five runs in the 3rd, three of which came on a bomb to left center by Marquez, for his first homerun of the season.

CSUDH would keep the pressure on in the next inning, pushing across four runs on two hits to put the game away.

SUU would ruin Toro starter Hernandez’s bid at a shutout in the top of the 7th on a sacrifice fly to left by Matthew Bezzant.

On the day, Marquez would have four hits and drive in five runs, while Moore and Dustin Hicks (Lake Forest, CA/Crichton College) each had three hits in the sweep.

On the mound Hernandez would toss his second complete game of the year, allowing one run on eight hits without a walk.

Toro fans, if you missed the game, you can catch the replay on KDHR, CSUDH’s on-campus radio station, tomorrow morning at 10:00 am. Log onto the station to catch all the action.

CSUDH will next be in action on Friday, February 23, when they host Cal State Monterey Bay to kick-off the 2007 CCAA schedule, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm on Toro Field.