SportsScope : Toro Nine to Test No. 2 Chapman

The Cal State Dominguez Hills baseball team, riding a two-game winning streak, can make its mark on the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. race this weekend when the Toros play a three-game series with second-place Chapman College. The Toros play at home at 2:30 p.m. today, then play a double-header at Chapman at noon Saturday.

The Toros also play host to Cal State Northridge in a 2:30 p.m. conference game Tuesday. Chapman is 6-3 in the CCAA and 17-13 overall, a game behind UC Riverside. Northridge goes into the weekend in sixth place, a game ahead of Dominguez Hills.

Dominguez Hills, 11-16 overall, is in last place at 2-7 in the CCAA and may be coming off its best game of the season, a 4-3 victory over Cal Poly Pomona in which the error-prone Toros didn’t commit any miscues and turned three double plays.

The Toros’ win streak has coincided with the insertion of freshman Dwayne Fowler at catcher and Vic Fresca in the outfield. Fowler has throw out three of four attempted base stealers, and Fresca has knocked in runs in each start. Pitcher Dave Haggard is also coming on after a slow start. The junior right-hander has allowed only three earned runs in his last 27 games and should return to the starting rotation with ace reliever Chris Haslock back from an injury. Haggard has moved up to second in the CCAA in earned run average at 2.51.

The injury jinx continues to haunt the Toros, however. The latest victim is slugger Jeff Sears, who was accidentally beaned by a teammate last weekend during infield practice and knocked unconscious. He may miss the Chapman series.

Among those managing to stay in the lineup, infielder Ruben Jauregui continues to lead the CCAA in hitting at .415, the team’s only batting average higher than .400. Sears’ absence deprives the team of its leader in home runs (seven) and co-leader in runs batted in (19) with Jauregui.

The Loyola Marymount baseball team, winner of 12 straight and ranked fourth nationally, takes the Easter weekend off before playing a two-game nonconference series at Fresno State. The Lions will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday before resuming West Coast Athletic Conference play next weekend at San Diego. The Lions are 31-7.

Cal State Dominguez Hills’ golf team today will complete the first of three Division II regional matches, with NCAA playoff berths at stake for teams and individuals. The Toros will play 18 holes today at Dry Creek Country Club in Lodi. Other teams competing are Cal State Northridge, Cal State Sacramento, UC Davis and Portland State. Today’s team winner and individual medalist are almost assured an invitation to the national tournament. The Toros’ top golfer for the season has been Rick Chartrand, with a 77.7 average. No. 2 golfer Jeff Manare shot a 74 last week in a victory over Whittier College.