April 30, 2005

Box Score

(San Diego, CA) - Keoni Ruth and Randy Curtis hit back-to-back homeruns in the first inning of San Diego's 5-3 victory over visiting San Francisco Saturday afternoon at USD's Cunningham Stadium. The relief efforts of Sean Warlop and Matt Falk, who combined to retire each of the last 11 USF batters in order, eventually allowed San Diego (26-22-1; 12-11 WCC) to even its three-game series with USF at one game apiece. San Diego's win, coupled with Gonzaga's second consecutive loss at Santa Clara, puts USD within two games of first place in the WCC Coast Division Standings.

San Francisco (31-13; 15-5 WCC) brought an eight-game winning-streak into Saturday's game with USD after rallying to win the series opener 4-3 in 11 innings on Friday. The Dons hold a slim lead over Pepperdine in the battle for the top spot in the WCC West.

The Torero offense posted four early runs in support of junior starter Justin Blaine (7-4), three coming on solo homeruns. Ruth and Curtis initiated the scoring with first-inning homers and USD freshman centerfielder Justin Snyder followed with a solo shot in the bottom of the second.

All three homeruns were hit off USF starter Tony Biale (4-3), who was lifted after just and inning and two thirds, surrendering four runs on six hits.

Blaine struck out nine spanning five complete innings, limiting San Francisco to a pair of runs on four hits to win his second consecutive start. Blaine issued seven walks, but pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth to leave with a 4-2 lead.

Called upon to work extended innings in relief of Biale, right-hander Ryan Muller at one point retired 13 consecutive San Diego batters through the middle innings to allow USF a chance at another comeback victory.

USF responded by manufacturing a run on an RBI groundout off Warlop in the sixth to narrow San Diego's lead to 4-3. Warlop then retired the Dons in order in both the seventh and eighth innings before Falk dealt a flawless ninth to earn his sixth save.