SAN FRANCISCO – Carlos Leyva went 2-for-5 with three RBI and Matt Akiyama scored three runs to lift visiting Cal State Dominguez Hills to an 8-4 California Collegiate Athletic Association victory over San Francisco State Sunday at Maloney Field.
The Toros also received three hits and two runs from Kevin Pillar to help claim a 3-1 edge in the weekend series and raise their record to 22-23 on the season and 17-19 in conference play, while the Gators were plagued by five errors to fall to 14-32 overall and 9-27 in the CCAA.
After plating a run in the top of the first, CSUDH increased its advantage to 3-0 on a pair of unearned runs in the second as Leyva singled in Akiyama, who previous reached on an SF State fielding error, while Oscar Soriano touched home on a wild pitch.
The Gators cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame when
Ben Mielke and
Andrew Suvunnachuen delivered run-scoring singles with two outs.
However, the Toros capitalized on three SF State miscues in the fourth to recapture a three-run bulge at 5-2. Akiyama, who led off with a single, eventually scored following two throwing errors, while Pillar touched home moments later when Abel Medina's fly ball was dropped in the outfield.
The Gators shook off their misfortune in the sixth, scoring two runs to pull within 5-4 as
Dustin Wold and
Trevor Pasiecznik tallied RBI singles.
Yet SF State could draw no closer as CSUDH plated three runs in the final two innings to put the game essentially out of reach. Leyva scored on Jonathan Keener's fielder's choice grounder in the eighth and added a two-run single in the ninth to close out the scoring.
Jonathan Boresma (1-0) earned the victory after allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in four innings after relieving starter Sean Wardour with two outs in the second. Michael Cruz pitched the final 3 1/3 innings, giving up just two hits to nail down his third save of the season.
Conversely, Gator starter
Nic Banaugh (3-4) was tagged with the hard-luck loss after surrendering five runs (one earned) on seven hits two walks in five innings before yielding to
Steven Dea.
Wold went 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored, while Suvunnachuen and
Ivan Otsuka finished with two hits apiece.
SF State closes out its 2011 campaign next weekend, May 6-8, when it tackles Cal State Stanislaus in a four-game set. The two teams will battle one another in single games next Friday and Sunday at Maloney Field, sandwiched around a Saturday doubleheader in Turlock, Calif.
