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Clarisa Ramirez delivered a clutch pitching performance out of the bullpen and Claudia Valencia came through with four two-out RBIs to lead the No. 4 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills to a 6-5 over No. 2 seed Chico State. The result eliminates the Wildcats from the 2022 CCAA Softball Tournament.
After falling behind 2-0 after an inning, the Toros came right back and put their first four batters on base in the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1. A fielder's choice tied the game at 2-2 and then Claudia Valencia gave the Cal State Dominguez Hills its first lead of the day with a two-out single into left field.
However, their lead was short-lived as a single by Grace Stover brought in two unearned runs to tie the game at 4-4.
Valencia would come through with another go-ahead two-out single in the top of the fourth to give the Toros the lead for good.
Chico State did not go away easily with their tournament hopes on the line. Pinch hitter Tayler Berens led off the inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to one (6-5). The Wildcats would go on to load the bases with two out before Ramirez was able to get another pinch hitter to roll out to second.
This was Ramirez's first win of the season and the Toros' first in the CCAA Softball Tournament since 2013. The freshman went 5.1 innings allowing four hits and one run. She walked one and struck out four.
Valencia finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBI. Kianna Abellera also went 2-for-4 with a double. She added an RBI, and two runs scored. Reilani Peteli went 4-for-4 with a run scored in the losing effort for Chico.
Cal State Dominguez Hills will advance in the elimination bracket and will play the winner of Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay on Saturday, May at 11 a.m.