Box Score

CARSON -- The Warriors had a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth and with two outs away could not close out the game as they dropped a heartbreaker to Cal State Dominguez HIlls, 6-5, on Friday.

Cal State Stanislaus took a 5-2 lead behind a brilliant start by Andrew Stueve, but the Toros rallied for four runs in their final at-bats to improve 35-15 overall, 25-12 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. The Toros are in second place in the CCAA.

The visiting Warriors of Cal State Stanislaus (22-24, 18-19 CCAA) ran the show for eight-straight before the No. 23 Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros rallied in the ninth behind a two-run long shot from Dean Benavidez that tied the game. Brian Strugis had already scored in the inning with a double and scored on a hit by Barrett Ceverha.

Prior to Benavidez's blast, the Toros, despite eight hits in the first six, were only able to capitalize on two runs. Benavidez also hit a solo homer in the seventh.

The Warriors wasted little time in nearly giving CSUDH no chance, grabbing a run in the first, second, fourth, sixth and seventh frames.

Lead-off Warrior Corey Conflenti led the team, going 2-of-5 with a triple, run and RBI while Kory Vitato scored two of Stanislaus' five runs.

Stueve almost worked a complete game after holding the Toros to only two runs on two hits through eight innings before handing over duties to Eric Cendejas to close. But Cendejas faced three batters, and allowed the homer. He also gave up two singles, including Andrew Baslow's hit that plated Carlos Leyva.