May 9, 2004

Box Score

(San Diego, CA) - The Toreros squandered an early lead en route to losing game three of a weekend series with Gonzaga 8-7 Sunday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium. San Diego (30-21, 16-11) put up three runs in the second inning and loaded the bases in the third as it appeared that USD would easily complete a series sweep. Gonzaga (21-25, 13-11) had other ideas, scoring six runs in the top half of the fifth inning and later turning away a Torero rally in the ninth. USD will next play at No. 24 UC Irvine Tuesday night at 6pm.

Justin Blaine (4-3) took the loss for San Diego, allowing two runs in the fourth and leaving with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth. Pat Lucy came on and walked Gonzaga's Bobby Carlson to make the score 4-3. With the bases still loaded Lucy induced a double play groundball off the bat of David Johnson, but Jose Ortega let it go through his legs and two runs would score.

Gonzaga would never relinquish the lead after emerging from the fifth inning with an 8-4 advantage. Bulldog starter Patrick Donovan (3-3) was credited with the win, pitching eight innings of nine-hit, six-run baseball. Donovan yielded a two-run double to USD freshman Keoni Ruth in the eighth and gave way to John Gonzalez in the ninth.

Gonzalez managed to pick up his third save, despite allowing a leadoff double to Freddy Sandoval and an RBI base hit courtesy of Tom Caple in the ninth. With two-outs and Caple at first base, Torero slugger Josh Hansen was called out on a close play at first base to end the game.

Keoni Ruth went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI's. Freddy Sandoval was 2-for-4, driving in two on an RBI single in the second inning and later doubling in the ninth. Jordan Abruzzo added a pair of hits and scored two runs.