LAS VEGAS – Trailing by seven runs, with only three outs remaining, the Saints nearly pulled off another miraculous comeback, scoring five runs, but left the tying and go ahead runs on base at the end. Cal State Dominguez Hills handed the Saints their first loss of the season with a 7-5 score to end the Desert Stinger.
Early power lifted Dominguez Hills to a 7-0 lead after the third inning, highlighted by home runs in the second and third innings. The home run in the third inning put the Toros on top by three, but it was only the beginning of the inning. CSUDH proceeded to score four more runs, capped off by a two RBI single, along with another RBI single and bases loaded walk.
"We came out very flat and it went down 7 to 0," said head coach
Jim Peterson. "We fought back to make it a close game with the bases loaded in the seventh. We struggled offensively and defensively today."
The Saints didn't have many chances to score throughout a majority of the game.
Lauren Diuco managed to steal second in the first and
Alyssa French reached second on a fielding error; however, those were the only runners in scoring position thru six innings.
In the seventh, French led off with a single, followed by a
Nicki DeHan single. A groundout and error later, the Saints had the bases loaded with one out.
Trinity Loeb walked in the first run, and Diuco came through with the RBI single to cut the lead to five.
Trinity Favela reached on another Toros' error and
Emily Thornton singled up the middle to drive in two more runs. A fly out put two outs on the board, then French forced a bases loaded walk to trim the lead to two. However, the comeback came to end with a pop up to second, leaving the bases loaded and handing the Saints' their first loss of the year.
Lauren Maley (0-1) picked up the loss after going the first two innings, allowing three runs on five hits.
Brandi Schoessler pitched the final four innings in relief, giving up four runs, three earned, on eight hits.
The Saints wrapped up play in the Desert Stinger, going 2-1, with two rainouts yesterday. They return to action on Feb 15 against Fort Lewis College in Tucson, Arizona to begin the Cactus Classic.
