Feb. 20, 2005

Box Score

(San Diego, CA) - A game-ending play at the plate in a thrilling game between San Diego and Oregon State denied the host Toreros a sweep of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at USD's Cunningham Stadium. Having already beaten UC Davis by a score of 6-2 earlier in the day, San Diego nearly overcame a late two-run deficit against Oregon State in the finale.

With two-outs and two-on in the bottom of the ninth inning, a pinch-hit single by USD's Matt Weston sent teammate's Reginald Foy and Shane Buschini running for home. Foy scored easily from third and Buschini, running from second and representing the game's tying run, was tagged out at home courtesy of an outstanding throw by OSU leftfielder Chris Campos- ending the game and allowing the Beavers a 3-2 win.

San Diego received a pair of outstanding pitching performances Sunday from starter's Nate Boman (3-1) and Justin Blaine (2-1). Boman struck out 10 batters during a seven-inning two-run performance against UC Davis (4-4). Blaine set a career-high by pitching into the ninth against Oregon State, retiring five via the strikeout while scattering eight hits.

In the opener, USD put up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off the UC Davis pitching combination of starter Vince DeCoito (0-2) and reliever Eddie Gamboa. A pair of RBI sacrifice flies and a run-scoring single by Ryan Lilly in the inning was enough offense for Boman, a left-handed sophomore from San Diego's Patrick Henry High School. Playing in drizzling rain in the top of the first inning, Boman walked two and allowed a pair of singles to spot the Aggies an early lead, before USD's offense began to produce, beginning with the four-run effort in the sixth.

Blaine was equally impressive as USD faced Oregon State in game-two. A pair of singles in Oregon State's half of the third inning accounted for a 1-0 OSU advantage that lasted into the USD seventh. A squeeze bunt from Logan Gelbrich tied the game at 1-1 off eventual winner, OSU reliever Kevin Gunderson (2-0). Oregon State's Chris Kunda broke the 1-1 tie in the ninth with a run-scoring double off Blaine, highlighting a two-run Beaver ninth- setting up the dramatic finish in the game's final frame.