Toros infielder Austyn Tengan attempts to make a tag during team’s 5-7 defeat to Concordia Feb. 2. Photo Courtesy of Toro Athletics.

By Jessica Olvera, Co-Sports Editor

The CSUDH baseball team is off to a rocky start to the 2020 season as its record currently sits at 3-7, but came away with a series split against Cal State San Marcos this past weekend to open up conference play.

The Toros dropped the first game of the series by a score of 8-7, from a walk-off Cougar home run in the ninth inning on Friday but bounced back to a thrilling 8-5 win on Saturday. In a doubleheader on Sunday, the Cougars ran away with an 8-5 game-one win in 11 innings while the Toros responded with a 6-0 shoutout in the last game of the series to earn the split.

The team is struggling to produce on the hill and remain consistent at the plate, as its current pitching staff sits at a combined 5.26 ERA and its offense at a .281 batting average.

The Toros have come up short in their offensive rallies against opponents, as four of their seven losses have resulted in trailing by one run.

Despite the lack of production in the win column, Senior first baseman Pierson Loska continues to be an offensive threat as he is currently leading the team in home runs (3), slugging percentage (.759), RBIs (11), and walks drawn (13).

Senior infielder Jose Jimenez has emerged as another offensive producer for the team, as he is currently batting .405, with a team-leading 15 hits and is fourth on the team with a .486 slugging percentage.

On the hill, the team has struggled to hold off opponents and has given up a total of 99 hits and 66 runs in a span of 10 games.

The Toros will look to make a turn around on their season as the team is set to continue conference play against Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series starting on Friday, Feb. 21 at 2 p.m.