Feb. 25, 2005

Box Score

(College Station, TX) - Josh Butler hurled his first career shutout and All-America candidate Jordan Abruzzo hit his third homerun of the season as San Diego defeated Evansville 2-0 Friday afternoon at Olsen Field on the campus of Texas A&M. The game initiated the 2005 Dominos Pizza Aggie Classic, which spans four days and a total of 12 games between San Diego (9-7-1), Evansville (7-1), No. 19 Washington (2-4) and No. 11 Texas A&M (6-2).

Butler (2-3) drops his season ERA to 1.99, contributing to an outstanding USD starting rotation that also includes left-handers' Nate Boman and Justin Blaine. Despite the Torero offense providing Butler just two runs on four hits (five total base-runners), Butler was able improve his overall record to 2-3.

Evansville starting pitcher Adam Rodgers (0-1), a junior right-hander from Evansville, worked all eight innings for a Purple Aces squad that had won its first seven games. One of few mistakes made by Rodgers on the day came in the second inning, when Abruzzo hit a 3-1 offering over the right-field fence to give USD an early 1-0 lead.

A single by All-WCC first baseman Randy Curtis drove home Jaime Hesselgesser in the sixth inning to extend the Torero advantage. Curtis also played excellent defensively, allowing Butler to at one point retire 12 consecutive Evansville batters.

USD returns to action Saturday with a pair of games, first against No. 19 Washington at 11:00am (CT) and later vs. tournament host and No. 11 Texas A&M at 8:00pm (CT).