CARSON – Getting the final out of a baseball game can be easy or it can be costly. For Chico State, it got the benefit of the later. The Wildcats were down to their final out against Cal State Dominguez Hills and a routine play to end the game turned into a costly error Chico State benefited as it took a 4-3 win Sunday to split the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series.
Much like how the Toros (21-25, 16-20 CCAA) ended the Wildcats' (18-23, 12-19 CCAA) playoff hopes Saturday by taking the doubleheader in runaway fashion, Chico State returned the favor and ended Dominguez Hills' chances for a spot.
Dylan Day was excellent on the mound for the Wildcats, going six innings with four strikeouts while allowing one run, four hits and a walk.
Jeffrey Ray had three of the Wildcats' 13 hits. Jacob Jablonski had two hits and both of them drove in Ernie Arambula. In the fifth inning, Arambula, Ray and Jablonski each singled to drive in the game's first run. In the seventh inning, Arambula tripled to right center and Jablonski knocked in the go-ahead run with a single through the right side to give the 'Cats a 2-1 lead.
Dominguez Hills answered back in a big way with a two-run home run in the eighth to give the Toros a 3-2 lead.
With one out in the ninth, Ray hit a triple to right center and was about to be left stranded until Toro shortshop Miguel Marin made a bad throw trying to putout Cameron Mahaffy at first, allowing Ray to score in the tying run.
Elijah Jackson opened the 10
th inning with a double to left center, too third one pinch-hitter Xabi Iparraguirre's ground out and scored on another defensive miscue by the Toros.
Eric Hill, who came in the ninth, pitched a shutout 10
th inning for his first win of the season.
The Wildcats will close out the regular season at Nettleton Stadium hosting Cal State LA. The series begins at a rare Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Friday will be the 9/7-inning doubleheader beginning at noon. The two will close the book on 2023 Saturday at 11 a.m.
