Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
SAN BERNARDINO — Cal State San Bernardino needed at least a split to stay a half game up on Cal State Dominguez Hills, but after a 5-1, 9-2 sweep by the Toros, CSUSB is now on the outside looking in.
The loss by the Coyotes (24-24, 16-13 CCAA) leaves them half game out of the conference tournament behind UC San Diego. The Toros (26-18, 18-12 CCAA) moved into third place with the win and have won five of the six games played against CSUSB this year. Only two have been conference games.
In the opener, Britney Butler finally broke up a scoreless game in the bottom of the third with a lead off home run. It was her 13th home run of the season. The Toros answered right back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Amber Angel to tie it at 1-1.
Cal State Dominguez Hills took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth with a lead off home run Michelle Miranda and a two-out double by Emiley McEwen. The Toros added another in the sixth when Miranda singled up the middle to make it 5-1.
That was all the cushion Stephanie Jiminez needed as she tossed the final three innings for the Toros to pick up her third save of the year. Lauren Harper went the first four innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Cassidy Lee fell to 9-5, losing her first game in eight appearances.
Butler was the only Coyote with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
In the nightcap the Toros took the first lead of the game with a solo home run by Angel to lead off the second. CSUDH added another in the top of the third on a wild pitch with the bases loaded to take a 2-0 lead. The Toros made it a 4-0 game when Jackie Reyes doubled to left center.
The Coyotes finally got on the board in the fourth on a Jamie Leffingwell single to second to make it 4-1, but Caitlin McGrath hit her second home run of the year in the top of the fifth to put the Toros up 5-1. CSUDH added another run in the sixth on a double through the left side by Katie Garcia to lead 6-1.
CSUSB got one back on a CSUDH error to make it 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, but that was the extent of the rally.
The Toros put the game away with three more runs in the top of the seventh to hold the 9-2 advantage.
Between Jimenez, who went the first 3 1/3 innings, and Harper who tossed the final 3 2/3 innings, the CSUDH staff allowed just two runs on four hits and combined to strike out six in the second game. Brianne Godfredson (8-6) took the loss for the Coyotes.
The two will play again tomorrow in a noon doubleheader.
