April 9, 2005

Box Score

(Santa Clara, CA) - San Diego pounded Santa Clara 19-2 in Game One of a doubleheader Saturday and rallied from behind to win 10-9 in extra innings in the finale to complete the sweep, improving to 7-7 in West Coast Conference (WCC) play. Freshman outfielder Justin Snyder went 6-for-11 on the day, knocking in the go-ahead run for USD in the 10th inning of Game Two.

San Diego (21-17-1; 7-7 WCC) set season-highs for runs scored (19) and hits (25) in the opener, receiving six RBIs from sophomore second baseman Keoni Ruth, a grand-slam from All-American Jordan Abruzzo and a career-high nine strikeouts from winning-pitcher Josh Butler.

Santa Clara (14-18; 1-9 WCC) All-American right-hander Anthony Rea (2-4) allowed 13 hits in five innings in Game One. The Bronco pitching combination of Rea, Bryan Fleming and Scott Longergan allowed USD to score in each of the last seven innings.

Senior designated hitter Jamie Hesselgesser scored a career-high five runs during the rout in support of Butler (6-4), who dominated on the mound- striking out a personal-best nine and allowing just one run through seven innings. All nine Torero starters registered hits and the Broncos fueled the Torero rout by committing six errors defensively.

Trailing 7-5 in the sixth inning of Game Two, Ryan Lilly hit a game-tying two-run homer and two batters later Snyder followed with his first career homerun to put USD in front 8-7.

The Broncos, who return six All-WCC players from its 2004 squad that finished 16-14 in league play, rallied to take a 9-8 lead in the bottom of the eighth. Junior shortstop Kevin Drever was 4-for-4 and reliever Thomas Van Buskirk pitched effectively in relief to put SCU in position to win in the ninth.

Patrick Overholt (1-5) was called upon to close out USD, but a clutch two-out double by Steve Singleton allowed Gavin Ng to score from first base, tying the game at 9-9.

Torero closer Matt Falk (2-2) kept SCU off the scoreboard in the ninth and tenth, and was the winning pitcher thanks to Snyder's go-ahead single in the day's 19th inning.

San Diego is now 17-6 playing away from its home field of Cunningham Stadium. The Toreros will look to improve on that road record when they try for the series sweep over Santa Clara Sunday at 1pm.