March 13, 2005

Box Score

(San Diego, CA) - Sophomore Josh Butler turned in another solid pitching performance and San Diego's offense scored seven runs in the later stages of a 10-2 victory over city rivals San Diego State Sunday afternoon at Tony Gywnn Stadium.

USD (16-10-1) wins the first-ever weekend series between the two schools, taking two-of-three from a San Diego State (5-16) club that was unable to hold an early two-run lead.

Designated hitter Curt Mendoza initiated the scoring in the second inning with a solo homerun. An inning later SDSU leftfielder Kasey Perry plated a run on an RBI-groundout to account for the early Aztec advantage.

USD quickly answered in the top of the fifth, tying the game at 2-2 courtesy of Shane Buschini's third homerun of the year- a two-run blast over the right field wall off Aztec starter Ben Coon (0-1).

Third-year Aztec head coach Tony Gwynn was ejected for the second time in his college coaching career by home-plate umpire Bill Van Raaphorst in the fifth.

Thanks to the outstanding pitching by Butler (3-3), who went eight complete innings, scattered five hits and struck out seven, San Diego was able to build on a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning.

USD third baseman Jamie Hesselgesser went 3-for-4 and sophomore catcher Jordan Abruzzo doubled and drove in three runs. San Diego banged out 11 hits and scored twice in the eighth and five more times in the ninth to blow the game wide open.

Seventh-year Toreros head coach Rich Hill utilized nearly his entire roster during the weekend set, with newcomers' Kevin Hansen and Brendon Quon starting in Sunday's series finale.