Coyotes down Dominguez 2-1

The non-conference mini-series continues Saturday
with a doubleheader at the Toros home field in Carson,
starting at 11 a.m.

The Coyotes got strong pitching from three hurlers.
Senior right-hander Matt Long went 7.2 innings,
yielding all seven Toros hits and one earned run while
striking out seven and walking just one. Michael Leal
came on in the eighth to get the third out with the
tying run at second. Ward Minich retired the Toros in
order in the ninth for the save.

Matt Hopps made one bad pitch for the Toros and it
cost him and his teammates. In the second inning Kyle
Walton led off with a single through the right side
and Valenzuela smoked a liner over the left-field wall
at Arrowhead Credit Union Park for a 2-0 Coyotes lead.

Hopps went 5.1 innings, gave up just four hits,
walked four and struck out six in a commendable
effort. Phillip Van Doren finished up with 2.2 innings
of work, allowing just two hits and striking out four
Coyotes without walking anybody.

The Toros got their only run in the eighth when
senior catcher Martin Conde (3 for 3) led off with a
two-strike double to right center. After two outs,
junior shortstop Cody Puckett brought Conde home with
a single to center to end Long’s bid for a shutout.
Leal came out of the bullpen, walked a batter to put
Puckett on second base, then struck out Jeff Cullen to
end the frame.