Feb. 28, 2009
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - For the second consecutive game, the 11th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team (5-3) received a walk-off RBI single to come from behind and claim a 5-4 win over the University of Nevada (2-4) Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game at Cunningham Stadium.
With USD trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Toreros looked for another magical moment at Cunningham Stadium, and they got just that. Sean Nicol got things started with a single. Chris Engell then hit a single to left field, and the Nevada left fielder let the ball roll under his glove, which allowed Nicol to score from first and Engell to reach second base on the error and tie the game up. After Engell moved to third on a Jose Valerio ground out, Zach Walters hit the walk-off RBI single to left center field to give USD the dramatic 5-4 win.
The Wolf Pack scored first as they put up two runs on three hits in the top of the third inning. The UNR runs came on Shaun Kort RBI single and a Brett Hart RBI ground out to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead.
The Toreros cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third. Austin Green led off the inning with a single through the right side and moved to second on a Tony Strazzara walk. After Nick McCoy loaded the bases with a bunt single, Kevin Muno drove in Green with a RBI sacrifice fly to right field, moving the score to 2-1.
After Nevada took back that run in the top of the fourth inning, USD would knot the score at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Victor Sanchez led off the frame with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a Nicol walk, Engell drove in Sanchez with a RBI single to left field. Nicol then stole third base, and Engel was then thrown out on a steal attempt at second, but not before Nicol crossed the plate to tie things up at 3-3.
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The Wolf Pack then scored one run on a Tyson Jaquez RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to set up the dramatic finish at Cunningham Stadium.
Scott Denault (2-0) picked up his second win of the day on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed no runs on two hits in 1.2 innings of work. Tyler Graham (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Wolf Pack, as he allowed two runs on four hits on 2.2 innings of work.
Offensively for the Toreros, Engell led the way, as he went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
The Toreros and Wolf Pack will square off one more time, tomorrow morning in a 11 a.m. non-conference game at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
