May 14, 2005
Box Score
(San Diego, CA) - San Diego lost to LMU for the fifth consecutive time this season and the Toreros were eliminated from postseason play in the process after a 9-1 setback at Cunningham Stadium Saturday afternoon. Loyola Marymount (25-24; 14-11 WCC) keeps pace with Gonzaga (28-20; 15-10 WCC) in the race for the WCC Coast Division title. San Diego (29-26-1; 15-14 WCC) will wrap up its home campaign when Cunningham Stadium plays host to `Senior Day' Sunday in the series finale, scheduled for a 1pm first pitch.
In a game televised live nationally on College Sports Television (CSTV), San Diego starter Justin Blaine (8-5) allowed 10 hits and was charged with six runs through five and two thirds innings to lose his first decision since April 1st.
Four singles off Blaine in the second inning plated a pair of runs for LMU, giving the Lions an early 2-0 lead. LMU extended its two-run advantage in the fifth when catcher Sean Dovel hit a two-out single that scored teammate Jon Oller.
After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, Blaine would be lifted an inning later with another LMU run scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lion designated hitter Evan Shahak.
USD junior Matt Falk relieved Blaine with two outs and two on in the top of the sixth. A 4-0 LMU lead at the time ballooned to 7-0 advantage after a pair of fielding miscues by USD defensively. Falk induced what appeared to be an inning-ending fly ball, but Torero right fielder Shane Buschini lost it in the sun, scoring two and a subsequent error on Torero third baseman Kevin Hansen pushed in the inning's fourth run allowing LMU a comfortable seven-run cushion.
San Diego's offense was quiet throughout as Lion junior starter Stephen Kahn (6-7) hurled six-plus scoreless innings en route to defeating USD for the second time this season. Kahn issued four walks in the first four innings and six on the day but allowed just one run over seven complete frames.
Torero second baseman Keoni Ruth broke up Kahn's shutout bid in the seventh with a two-out double that brought home Hansen from first, but USD would go quietly in the later stages to suffer its ninth loss to LMU in the two team's 10 previous meetings.
