April 10, 2004
Box Score
(San Diego, CA) - Game one of a West Coast Conference doubleheader Saturday between San Diego and Santa Clara went to the Toreros of USD by a score of 8-5. San Diego (19-17) rallied from an early deficit to defeat visiting Santa Clara (16-18), claiming the first two games of a scheduled three-game weekend series. Freshman Shane Buschini homered during a four-run USD third inning. The pitching combination of Kyle Collins and Justin Blaine combined to limit the Broncos to seven hits.
Santa Clara, who scored three first-inning runs in Thursday's 7-6 USD victory, put three quick runs on the board again Saturday morning. Bronco first baseman Michael Thompson hit a towering three-run homer to right field to initiate the scoring. Trailing by three, San Diego went quietly in the first but scored two in the second and four in the third to take a 6-3 lead.
A two-out single by San Diego's Tom Caple scored both Joey Prast and Jose Ortega in USD's second. After Buschini's two-run homer in the ensuing inning, Bronco starter Kellan McConnell (3-4) threw a pitch behind Caple and was ejected by the umpiring crew after an altercation escalated between the two teams.
Collins (3-1) proceeded to retire Santa Clara in order in both the fourth and fifth. Collins worked six and a third innings, scattered five hits and earned his third win of the season. Blaine went two-plus innings to pick up his first career save. Blaine would later continue to throw as the starting pitcher for USD in game two.
Caple went 2-for-4 in game one with a pair of RBI's. Four other Toreros enjoyed a multi-hit game, including leftfielder Josh Hansen (2-for-4), who extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Prast was 2-for-4, doubling for the ninth time this season.
