April 18, 2004

Box Score

(Malibu, CA) - Behind seven plus innings from sophomore pitcher Justin Blaine and an offensive lineup that saw six different players post a hit, San Diego defeated Pepperdine 8-2 Sunday afternoon in front of a national TV audience courtesy of CSTV. With Sunday's victory San Diego (22-19) claims the three-game weekend series over Pepperdine (18-19). It marks the fourth straight season the Toreros have won a series in Malibu. San Diego has won eight of its last ten conference games.

Blaine (3-2) pitched into the eighth, limiting the Waves to five hits and two runs. Freshman Josh Butler came on to complete the final two frames, helping Blaine earn his third win of the season. The Torero offense had built an 8-0 lead before Blaine allowed Wave centerfielder Brandon Daguio to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the fifth.

San Diego catcher Jordan Abruzzo hit a double over Daguio's head in centerfield to highlight a five-run USD fifth inning. Abruzzo went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Josh Hansen scored in the fifth but saw his hitting streak end at 22 games. Hansen and the Toreros took advantage of a Daguio fielding error in the third to score both Tom Caple and Joe Wickman and take an early 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Brandon Boesch (3-4) was touched up for four earned runs over four innings. Boesch gave San Diego a total of six free passes Sunday. Boesch also threw two wild pitches and catcher Chad Tracy was charged with a passed ball.