Fifth-Inning Miscues Doom Toros in Loss to Sonoma State

Recap, photo courtesy of Cal State Dominguez Hills

ROHNERT PARK – The Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team made critical mistakes in the fifth inning that led to a 9-2 defeat at Sonoma State in the finale of the four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series Monday afternoon.
 
All the damage was done in that fifth inning, when the Seawolves capitalized on seven runs, five of which were unearned.
 
The Toros got on the board in the sixth. Kai Gomez, Jordan James and Esteban Ortega each singled to load the bases to start the frame and Justin Morris hit a sacrifice fly to score in Gomez. The second run came in the ninth in much similar fashion. Kevin Lugo and Darylo Donerson each singled to start the inning off and Lugo scored on Evan Yeager's sacrifice fly.
 
Joe Mercado got off to a promising start on the mound for CSUDH (8-18, 5-15 CCAA). He threw zeroes on the board up until the fifth inning. His day would end striking out two but allowing two earned runs on five walks and two hits.
 
The Toros gathered nine hits on the day but struck out as many times, including six against Michael Byerline.
 
Dominguez Hills welcomes San Francisco State to Toro Field beginning Thursday at 3 p.m.