CARSON, Calif. – The 18^th-ranked Chico State baseball team had a ninth-inning rally going to recover from a five-run deficit, but Cal State Dominguez Hills was able to halt the comeback attempt and take a 9-5 CCAA series-opening win over the Wildcats at Toro Field Friday afternoon.
 
The Wildcats fall to 24-14 overall and 14-11 in the CCAA. The Toros, meanwhile, move up to 24-14 overall and 20-9 in the CCAA, becoming the first team to reach 20 conference wins on the season.
 
Dominguez Hills racked up 16 hits against five different Chico State pitchers. The Toros, however, was limited to only a pair of doubles and a three-run home run by leadoff man Trey Winget in the third inning that eventually became the difference in the game.
 
Chico State earned eight hits in the game, including doubles from Troy Kent, Michael Baker and Carson Case.
 
Down by four after two innings played, the Wildcats got a big rally in the third that put themselves back into the game. Ernie Arambula led off with a walk and Case's double to right center put two runners in scoring position, setting up for a two-run single by Phoenix Casias. Kent's double knocked in Casias to make it a one-run deficit.
 
The Toros responded in their half of the inning with Winget's three-run jack, ending Chico State starter Evan Tomlinson's day.
 
Dominguez Hills' Darren Roberts threw six innings with four strikeouts and limiting to five hits.
 
Chico State wasn't able to break through reliever Bryan Kraft until the ninth inning. The rally began with Juan Nunez singled up the middle and Baker's double put runners on second and third. Casey Vogan singled in Nunez and Baker scored on a wild pitch. Kraft kept the inning going when he hit pinch-hitter Jesse Gadd to end his chance for a save. Julian Castro was able to get a strikeout to end the game.
 
The two teams return to Toro Field for the 9/7-inning doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is at noon.