March 8, 2009
SAN DOEGO, Calif. - The 11th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team used a huge seven-run fourth inning to cruise their way to a 10-7 win over San Diego State University Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Toreros (7-6) got on the scoreboard first as in the top of the second inning, Victor Sanchez got things started with a stand-up double down the left field line and moved to second on a Zach Walters infield single. Nick McCoy then drove in Sanchez with a single through the left side to give USD the early 1-0 lead.
The Aztecs (7-6) then answered back in their half of the inning with a Brandon Meredith solo home run over the left field fence to even things at 1-1.
The Toreros then took advantage of a pair of SDSU errors to score a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Steven Chatwood got things started by being hit by a pitch, and moved to third when Sean Nicol hit the ball deep into centerfield, but the SDSU centerfielder dropped the ball, resulting in an error, allowing Nicol to reach second and Chatwood to move to third. Meador then drove in Chatwood on a sacrifice fly to left field. Chris Engel kept things alive when he struck out, but reached on a wild pitch, as the ball went behind the catcher, allowing Nicol to move to third. Engel then attempted to steal second, and stopped half way between the bases. The SDSU catcher then attempted to throw him out, but the first baseman committed an error, which also allowed Nicol to score from third to give the Toreros a 3-2 lead.
The Toreros then added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning, exploding for seven runs on four hits. Austin Green led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Walters single to right field. On the same play, the SDSU second baseman made a throwing error, which allowed Walters to reach second. Nick McCoy then reached on a fielding error, which scored Green and moved Walters to third. After Muno loaded the bases with a walk, Chatwood hit a two-run double to left field, which moved Muno to third. Nicol then hit a two-run double to clear the bases and push across the fourth and fifth runs. Meador then kept things going as he was hit by a pitch and Engell drove in the sixth run on a sacrifice bunt, and he reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. Sanchez drove in the final run on a RBI single to left centerfield to give the Toreros a commanding 10-1 lead.
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The Aztecs took back two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Merideth two-run double to move the score to 10-3.
SDSU then scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make things interesting. The first run came on a Torres run-scoring double to centerfield, a three-run homer from Cory Vaughn, which put the game at its final of 10-7.
Offensively for the Toreros, Nicol led the way as he went 2-for-5 with one double and two RBI. Sanchez and Walters also looked good offensively as they both went 2-for-4.
USD's Matt Thomson (2-0) picked up the win for the Toreros on the mound as he allowed seven runs on seven hits, while striking out a career-high nine batters in 8.0 innings of work. AJ Griffin picks up his second save on the season as he allowed no runs on no hits in 1.0 innings of work. SDSU starter Nate Solow (0-1) was saddled with the loss as he allowed seven runs, four earned, on four hits in 3.0 innings of work.
San Diego will return to action on Tuesday as they head to Long Beach to take on the 49ers of Long Beach State University in a 6 p.m. game at Blair field.
