March 31, 2004
Final Stats
San Diego, CA - USD senior Pat Lucy (pictured) hurled five hitless innings to lead San Diego past visiting UC Riverside 12-4 Wednesday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium. Classmate Joey Prast continued his torrid hitting streak, belting a grand slam during a five-run USD eighth- slamming the door on a Highlander team that had won nine straight. It marks the second time in as many meetings San Diego (14-16) has defeated UC Riverside (18-11) this season.
After freshman Josh Butler worked a pair of innings and junior Sean Warlop (2-1) pitched the third, Lucy came on in the fourth to retire 14 consecutive batters, striking out three and allowing just one base runner. Lucy's season ERA moves to 3.38 spanning 16 innings and seven total appearances.
The Torero offense, fresh off a 17 hit performance against St. Mary's Sunday, slugged 15 hits off four UCR pitchers on Wednesday. Highlander starter Jamie Torres (0-1) was knocked around for eight hits and seven runs (five earned) in his first outing of the season. Torres allowed four Toreros to score during a first inning that saw USD plate nine batters.
With the score tied 4-4 in the third, Freddy Sandoval hit a two-RBI single to spark a three-run USD inning and allow the Toreros a 7-4 lead. Sandoval went 3-for-5, doubling for the eighth time this season. With the score remaining 7-4 into the eighth, Joey Prast (who is batting .448 in USD's last seven games) scored three times and hit a grand slam to end any hopes of a UCR comeback.
Along with Sandoval, Jose Ortega and Shane Buschini each registered three hits Wednesday. Tom Caple and Josh Hansen each hit an RBI singles for San Diego, winners of two in a row heading into a weekend series with Gonzaga in Spokane.
