Dominguez Hills Falls as CSUN Rips 17 Hits

Cal State Dominguez Hills, the two-time-defending but lately defenseless champion of the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. came to Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, seeking a return to form.

Instead, the Toros continued their woeful ways against a Northridge team that ripped a school-record eight doubles on its way to an 11-7 conference win at Matador Field.

“As bad as they’ve been going,” Northridge Coach Terry Craven said, “not to have beaten them would have been a crusher.”

Dominguez Hills, which has been ravaged by injuries and inept execution, dropped to 9-15 overall and 0-6 in CCAA play--the Toros’ worst start in conference play since 1980.

“We’re terrible,” Dominguez Hills Coach Andy Lopez said. “We don’t know how to handle a lead and we just don’t play real well when it counts. It’s something we’re not real accustomed to, but we’re sure doing a good job of getting used to it.”

It was the 17-hit attack of Northridge (10-19, 2-3) that played a big role in the Toros’ demise. A three-run rally by the Matadors in the fourth inning turned the game around.

Northridge trailed, 5-3, when Rusty McLain reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Damon Neidlinger--one of three converted first baseman playing out of position for the depleted Toros. Ted Weisfuss, who was 3 for 4 with three runs batted in, and John Bonilla, 3 for 5 with an RBI, followed with consecutive bunt singles to load the bases and Mark Hebert (2 for 5, two RBIs) singled up the middle to tie the score, 5-5. Lenn Gilmore’s sacrifice fly to right scored Bonilla with the go-ahead run.

Gilmore added the Matadors’ final run in the eighth with his conference-leading ninth home run and 36th RBI.

Junior right-hander Cary Snyder pitched five innings in relief of starter Leo Ramirez to earn the win. Snyder (3-2) gave up two runs, allowed five hits, had five strikeouts and did not walk a batter.