SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The Yotes finished their series against the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday with another doubleheader. Junior
Samantha Vargas pitched a shutout game, her second of the weekend, against the No. 4 ranked Toros. After three lead changes in the second game of the afternoon, the Yotes would fall to the Toros. Saturday's win and loss would bring the series to a 2-2 tie between both teams to end opening weekend of conference play.
Game 1: CSUSB 2, CSUDH 0
Vargas was in the circle to start the day, and would once again pitch seven shutout innings, making it her second of the series. She had three strikeouts on the day and was backed up by her defense to keep the Toros from making their way across home plate. Vargas' win-loss record goes up to 5-3 bringing her ERA to 2.01.
On the very first pitch of the second inning, outfielder
Hayden Greene gave herself an RBI with a homerun to left field. The junior from El Dorado Hills has a slugging percentage of .571 in her 21 plate appearances so far this season, the second highest on the team.
The Yotes defense was ready for everything that came their way.
Shannon Galliano came up clutch, making a diving catch in left field to make the first out of the third. She recorded five putouts throughout the game, making her fielding percentage perfect (1.000) and matching her career-high she set in the 2022 season.
Tereise Tosi got on base in the third inning after sending a double down the left field line.
Alyssa Martinez stepped up to the plate and singled to right field but would advance to second on the throw, earning an RBI and bringing Tosi in to score the Yotes' final run of the game. The Yotes would go on to strand three Toros on base to complete the shutout.
As a team, the Yotes put up 21 putouts. Tosi joined Galliano in leading the team with five, followed by
Veronica Garza (4). The senior catcher now has 248 career putouts from behind the plate.
Game 2: CSUSB 3, CSUDH 14
The Toros were patient at the plate and loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning. After a force-out at home, the bases were once again loaded.
Alyssa Martinez made a diving stop at shortstop and threw the runner out at third, stopping what was sure to be a multiple run-scoring play and only allowing one runner to score. On a hit-by-pitch, the Toros loaded the bases for the third time in the inning.
Brooklyn Blackmon stayed focused, forcing a strikeout and getting the Yotes out of a jam.
Opportunity came in the bottom of the inning, but a fly out and a pop up would strand Arianna Chavarria on base for the Yotes. The Toros extended their lead to 2-0 with a solo homerun to center field.
Brooke Brazill started the lead-changing rally with a single up the middle in the third inning. After two walks, the Yotes loaded the bases and brought Arianna Chavarria up to the plate. After battling at the plate, the junior infielder was awarded a base after the Toros took too long to pitch, bringing Brazill in to score.
Hayden Greene lined one up the middle, advancing Chavarria all the way to third with
Alexis Aguado and Martinez coming home. The Yotes would leave three on base this inning, but took the 3-2 lead.
The Yotes wouldn't have the lead for long when the Toros tied the game the very next inning before regaining the lead and never giving it up again. They finished with 21 putouts, Tosi being responsible for eight of them and
Sarah Moite for three.
Up Next
The softball team hits the road to continue conference play this weekend. They'll head up to Seaside, CA to face the Otters of Monterey Bay in two days of doubleheaders. On Friday, February 24
th, first pitch will be at 12 PM and will continue with the second game at 2 PM. Saturday, February 25
th will have the same schedule with gameplay at 12 and 2 PM. You can watch all the Yotes' road games the CCAA Network at
ccaanetwork.com.
To see the full CSUSB women's softball schedule, click HERE.
