Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Sonoma State University Athletics

SSU Baseball Team Celebrates Walkoff Victory
Danielle Brockmeyer/SSU Sports Information

Baseball by Tyler Lobe, Sports Information Director

Seawolves Score Two On Wild Pitch To Capture Bizarre Victory

The Seawolves gather in the outfield grass after Sunday's thrilling victory over the Toros.
BOX SCORE Sonoma State 4, Cal State Dominguez Hills 3 -- Box Score

ROHNERT PARK -- Trailing by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Daniel Caresio drew a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 count with two outs to tie the game, but the pitch also went wild and Alex Crosby, who was taking off from second base on the pitch, quickly rounded third and slid in for the game-winning run to cap a bizarre, yet thrilling end to Sonoma State's 4-3 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday afternoon at Seawolf Diamond.  The Seawolves win the series and improve to 9-8 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA.  The Toros fall to 10-12 (5-10 CCAA).

Up 2-1 in the seventh, Sonoma State surrendered two runs without giving up a hit or committing an error, but four walks, a hit by pitch, a passed ball and a wild pitch allowed Cal State Dominguez Hills to take a 3-2 lead.

Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth.  Down 3-2, the Seawolves gave the Toros a taste of their own medicine by scoring two runs without the benefit of a base hit or a defensive error; it was due in part by  three walks, a hit by pitch and a wild pitch.  It was that final wild pitch of the game that lifted Sonoma State which came on a full count with the bases loaded and two outs.  With runners going on the pitch, Crosby, coming from second base, was nearly standing on third when the breaking ball from CSUDH pitcher Nick Wagner reached home plate and when he saw the ball in the dirt and heading towards the backstop, Crosby turned on the jets and slid across the plate for the win.

Jackson Stogner, who was on third base during Caresio's at bat and scored the game-tying run just moments before Crosby came in behind him, went 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored; he also plated a run in the bottom of the first to give Sonoma a 1-0 lead after a sacrifice fly by Crosby.  Justin Serrao accounted for SSU's second run of the game in the third when he scored from second on a throwing error by the CSUDH second baseman on an attempt to throw Crosby out at first on a groundball.

Five other Seawolves recorded one hit.  In all, Sonoma State had 17 base runners on Sunday, but 12 were left on base. 

Cody Lane (1-1) got the victory in relief for SSU, tossing the final two and a thirds innings without giving up a hit, but walking two and striking out one.  Matt Hammonds got the start and the no-decision, working the first five frames, scattering four hits and allowing one unearned run in the fourth.

The Toros' Nick Wagner (0-2) suffered the loss; he started the game as the designated hitter, but relieved starter Brennan Bernardino in the sixth.

Sonoma State will step out of conference play on Tuesday to host Hawaii-Hilo in a doubleheader at Seawolf Diamond -- first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.