March 15, 2009
HOUSTON -- Junior pitcher A.J. Griffin scattered three hits over eight innings and the Torero offense combined for nine hits, including three doubles, to pace the University of San Diego baseball team to an 8-0 road win over No. 5 Rice Sunday afternoon in Houston, Tex. The win wrapped-up a weekend series that was shortened from four games to three due to rain in the area.
After rain postponed Saturday's third game of the series, the teams planned to play a double-header on Sunday starting at 11 am (Central Time). In what became an unofficial theme for the weekend, rain hit after the first inning Sunday and delayed the contest for more than three hours.
Junior pitcher Matt Thomson originally started on the mound for USD and kept Rice off the scoreboard, but with the long rain delay and temperatures in the low 50s, the Toreros brought in Griffin when play resumed. The right-hander from El Cajon, Calif., allowed just three singles and three walks while striking out eight to preserve the shutout of the nation's fifth-ranked team. Griffin (1-1) faced only three batters in an inning in six of his eight innings of work.
San Diego erupted for four runs in the top of the fifth. Jose Valerio singled with a come-back shot to the pitcher and Brian Farris singled on a long fly that was over the head of the Rice left fielder. James Meador was hit by a pitch to load the bases and the next batter, Victor Sanchez, was also bit by a pitch to score the first run in the series since Friday night. Bryan Haar then doubled to right field to drive all the runners home and stretch the margin to 4-0.
The Toreros added two more in the sixth. With two away, Brian Farris doubled to right-center and first base open, the Owls elected to intentionally walk Sean Nicol. Chris Engell doubled into the right field corner to score both men and make it a 6-0 game. In the ninth, Engell drew a leadoff walk and Meador knocked a two-run homer to left for an 8-0 margin.
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Rice threatened for runs only twice. In the first before the rain the Owls had two men on and no outs. In the third Rice had the bases loaded and one out. USD worked out of both jams, including the third inning with a ground out double-play. The Toreros improved to 9-9 overall. Rice moved to 10-5 on the season.
