March 4, 2008

Box Score

IRVINE, Calif. - The 11th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team (5-5) dropped a 4-0 decision to No. 13 UC Irvine (8-0) Tuesday evening in a non-conference game at Anteater Ballpark.

The Anteaters jumped got on the scoreboard first as in the bottom of the second inning, UCI pushed across one run on two hits. The Irvine run came when Aaron Lowenstein grounded into a bases-loaded double play, which scored Francis Larson, who had singled to lead off the inning.

Irvine then scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run Ollie Linton single and a Ryan Fisher RBI single to move the score to 4-0.

USD had its best scoring opportunity come in the first inning, as they put runners at the corners with no outs, but couldn't push across a run. Sean Nicol led off the inning with a single down the left field line and he moved to third on a Josh Romanski single to left centerfield. But a fly out and back-to-back strikeouts ended the USD scoring threat in the first inning.

Offensively for the Toreros, Kevin Hansen led the way as he went 2-for-4 as the only USD player to record multiple hits in the day.

Freshman left-hander Sammy Solis (1-1) looked impressive in his first collegiate start for the Toreros, but was saddled with the loss. Solis allowed four runs, one earned, on five hits, while striking out six in 6.0 innings of work. Daniel Bibona (2-0) picked up the win for the Anteaters, as he allowed no runs on four hits, while striking out 12 in 6.0 innings of work.

The Toreros will return to action on Thursday as they open play in the Aztec Invitational against Santa Clara University in a non-conference showdown at USD's Cunningham Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.