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The Toros scored three runs in the top of the ninth to come back and earn the win against the No. 1 seed, Cal State Monterey Bay, 5-4 on the second day of the 2022 CCAA Baseball Tournament.
 
Cal State Monterey used small ball and timely hitting to build a 3-1 lead after five innings. The Toros cut the deficit in half in the sixth when Pierson Loska scored on a passed ball to set up the comeback victory.
 
Matt Mecate got things started with a leadoff double, and one batter later, Emilio Barrera was hit by the pith to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. CCAA Newcomer of the Year Eric Smelko hit the first pitch he saw to right field to tie the game at 3-3, but the Toros weren't done yet.
 
With two outs and two runners on, Loska hit a deep fly ball to left field, which would have been out of the yard most days. However, the wind was blowing in, and it caused issues for the left fielder, who overran the ball and had to try and make a basket catch coming back towards the infield. The ball hit his glove but bounced away, allowing both runners to score on the error.
 
The Otters put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth with one out. They scored one on a sacrifice fly, and the Toros went to Donovan Waitman out of the bullpen. The junior right-hander was able to strike out the only batter he faced to preserve the game and earn the save.
 
The comeback was made possible by starting pitcher Dylan Steen who gave Cal State Dominguez Hills 5.2 innings and kept his team in the game. He allowed nine hits and three runs while walking four and striking out three. He left trailing 3-2. The bullpen went the next 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit and one run to help set up the ninth-inning rally.
 
Eric Smelko, who came through with the game-tying hit, was one of four Toros with two hits in the game. Dominguez Hills was able to score five runs with just two RBI thanks to a pair of errors by the Otters, which led to three unearned runs. All nine starters for Cal State Monterey Bay had at least one hit.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills will move to the semifinal game of the 2022 CCAA Baseball Tournament, where they will face Cal Poly Pomona on Friday, May 13 at 3 p.m.