April 12, 2008

Box Score

PORTLAND, Ore. - With the bases loaded and the University of Portland trailing by one run with one out, All-American closer AJ Griffin didn't panic, as he struck out the final two batters to lift the 13th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team to a thrilling 5-4 West Coast Conference win Saturday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field.

With the win, the Toreros improve to 26-11 overall, move to 6-2 in the WCC and have run their winning streak to seven games. With the loss, the Pilots fall to 16-19 overall and 2-6 in the WCC.

USD wasted no time in scoring as in the second inning, Logan Gelbrich launched his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence to give USD a 1-0 lead.

Portland then responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a Tyler Thompson run-scoring double, Cort Carpenter RBI single, and a Riley two-run double to right field to give the Pilots a 4-1 lead.

San Diego then took back two runs in the top of the third inning. Sean Nicol led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to third on a Josh Romanski double to left centerfield. James Meador then drove in the first run with a RBI groundout to the shortstop and Gelbrich drove in the final run with a RBI single to move the score to 4-3.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Toreros then took the lead scoring two runs on two hits. Kevin Muno led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a Nicol single through the right side. Romanski moved each runner up one base on a sacrifice bunt and Meador drove in the next the two runs with a single through to left field to put the game at its final of 5-4.

Offensively for the Toreros, Meador led the way going 2-for-5 with three RBI. Gelbrich also looked impressive at the plate as he went 2-for-5 with one home run and two RBI and Nicol and Kevin Hansen all recorded two hits on the day.

Romanski (6-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed four runs on seven hits, while striking out seven in 8.0 innings of work. Griffin picked up his second save in as many days and seventh overall, as he allowed no runs on two hits, while striking out two n 1.0 innings of work.

The Toreros and Pilots will conclude their three-game series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game at Joe Etzel Field.