April 20, 2004

Box Score

San Diego put together nine hits and scored eight runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Loyola Marymount 12-4 on Tuesday evening, earning a split in the four-game series that started on Sunday. USD improves to 16-26 (3-9 PCSC) with the victory while LMU falls to 24-12 (7-5 PCSC).

Sara Mason hit a two-out triple in the third scoring Gina McFarland to give the Toreros a 1-0 lead. LMU responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning taking a 2-1 advantage. San Diego reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Cindy McGee drove in Marissa Merchain on a single to right field. Merchain made it a 4-2 Torero lead in the sixth by driving in Fransesca Ramos on a double to left field.

In the bottom of the seventh, LMU's Emily Foltz made it a one-run game by crushing a home run over the left center fence. The Lions tied the game at four when Casey Phillips drove in Lisa Abbott on a two-out base hit that just barely stayed in fair territory down the left field line.

With one out in the top of the eighth inning, Kim Delpit started a Torero rally with a single up the middle. The next nine batters all reached base as San Diego collected nine hits and eight runs to take a 12-4 lead. Anna Russell pitched the bottom of the inning to earn the victory, improving to 9-6 on the season.

The Toreros were led at the plate by Merchain, who went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, two runs and three RBIs. Rebekah Bradford, Mason, Kim Delpit, Alicia Massei and McGee also collected multiple hits in the game. The 12 runs scored and 17 hits are both season highs for San Diego. The last time the Toreros scored 12 runs was March 9, 2001 against Tulsa.

USD takes on Santa Clara this weekend in their last home series of the year. They are scheduled to play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday with the first game starting at 12 noon each day.