Cal State Dominguez Hills stayed alive in the NCAA Division II West Super Regional series by beating Western Washington University, 3-2, on Wednesday, May 15 at Viking Field.
Western had an opportunity to sweep the Toros in the best-of-three series and advance to its first-ever Elite Eight, but it fell short after going down 3-1 after the fourth inning.
The Vikings will have to win one more game against CSUDH when the winner-take-all game three begins at 2:10 p.m.
CSUDH broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when junior Kaylee Hull drove in an RBI single to left field, scoring senior Jay Ross.
Senior Alani Nguyen kept the Toros’ momentum going with a single to right field, scoring fellow senior Mariah Ramirez. Western entered the fourth inning trailing 2-0.
Western junior Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez gave Western a spark in the top of the fourth, popping up a high-arcing ball that dropped just inside the right field line, and just beyond the CSUDH outfielder’s glove.
Freshman Maleah Andrews got all the way home from first. Andrewjeski-Ramirez made it to third. Even with that, CSUDH led 2-1 entering the bottom of the fourth.
The Toros re-extended their lead to two in the bottom of the fourth on a ground out by Ross that scored freshman Julissa Gomez.
Andrews, as she has all postseason, ignited Western’s offense. With just two hits as a team entering the sixth inning, Andrews put down a single to center field.
On the Vikings’ next at-bat, sophomore Hailey Rath sent a line drive single down the right field line. Andrews scored from first, making it 3-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth.
Western showed some fight in the seventh, getting one on base, but Ramirez handily closed the game out in the circle for CSUDH.
Andrews finished the game 1 for 1 at the plate with two runs scored for Western, as she was walked twice. Kong, who pitched the final two innings for Western, didn’t allow a hit, run or walk.
Ramirez pitched all seven innings for CSUDH, allowing four hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out six.
Connor J. Benintendi is a former CDN sports reporter, send tips and information to newstips@cascadiadaily.com.
