March 18, 2005
Box Score
(Los Angeles, CA) - San Diego stranded 14 runners during a 6-4 loss to West Coast Conference (WCC) Coast Division rival Loyola Marymount Friday afternoon. Playing in wet conditions at LMU's George Page Stadium, San Diego (16-12-1; 2-2 WCC) forced LMU (6-12; 1-0 WCC) to use five relievers in the late innings to make a winner out of Lion junior starter Stephen Kahn.
Matt Weston and
Jordan Abruzzo each hit solo homeruns for USD.
San Diego starter Justin Blaine (5-2) struck out eight spanning six-plus innings of work. With the score tied at 2-2 in the fifth, back-to-back RBI singles by LMU designated hitter Evan Shahak and Elvis Herrera off Blaine gave the Lions a 5-2 advantage.
Blaine was chased an inning later, with the Torero bullpen combination of Matt Couch and Matt Falk pitching effectively to allow San Diego a chance at a comeback.
The Toreros registered eight hits, with Weston hitting his fist homerun of the season in the fourth. Abruzzo added a solo shot in the seventh.
Trailing 6-3 in the eighth, Kahn (2-1) gave-way to the Lion bullpen. USD senior Jamie Hesselgesser led off the inning with a single and later scored to close the gap to 6-4. With the bases loaded and one out LMU called upon its fourth pitcher of the inning, sophomore lefty Daniel Macias. Randy Curtis struck out and Macias then induced an inning-ending fly-out off the bat of Abruzzo.
The Toreros threatened again in the ninth, with Weston hitting a two-out double to put runners on second and third. With the benefit of good defense behind him, Macias was able to retire USD pinch-hitter Logan Gelbrich to end the Torero threat and the game.
