Long Ball Contributes to Toros Downfall at CSULA
April 13, 2007

Courtesy Cal State L.A. Sports Information Office

Complete Box Score

LOS ANGELES - Brian Hernandez knocked three round-trippers, including a grand slam, as the Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles took their second consecutive game from Cal State Dominguez Hills at Reeder Field on Friday afternoon, 14-3. Cal State L.A. improves to 34-3-1 overall, 21-1 in the CCAA, while the Toros drop to 12-27-1, 8-18 CCAA.

Hernandez got things started for the Golden Eagles early. Leading off the bottom of the second, he scored the game’s first run, a solo shot to center.

The Toros responded in the top of the third as Mateo Marquez knocked a two-run blast, scoring Jerit Coleman. At that point, Cal State L.A. would trail for the final time as Felipe Gallo tied the game up on a wild pitch in the bottom of the frame.

The bottom of the fourth started with Hernandez walking up to the plate. The leftfielder promptly found himself rounding the bases following his second homer in as many at-bats.

Two innings later, Cal State L.A.’s bats lit up the Toros pitching. The Golden Eagles had scored five runs prior to Hernandez coming up for his second plate appearance of the inning. With Jack Roche, Jeff Carroll, and Kurt Crowell aboard, Hernandez knocked the Golden Eagles’ second slam in as many games. After the dust had settled, Cal State L.A. posted nine runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the 13-3 lead.

The Golden Eagles shut the Toros down over the final innings and added one more run in the eighth to take the 14-3 win.

The same two teams will conclude their 2007 season series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader in Carson.