March 12, 2009

Box Score

HOUSTON, Texas - The 20th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team dropped a 9-2 decision to No. 5 Rice University Thursday evening in a non-conference game.

The Owls (9-5) got on the scoreboard first as they took advantage of a pair of USD errors to score two runs in the first inning. The Rice runs came when Anthony Rendon reached on a fielder's choice, which scored Chad Mozingo, who had walked, on a USD fielding error. The second run came on a Rick Hague RBI single to give Rice a 2-0 lead.

After the Owls scored one run in each of the second and third innings, the Toreros (8-8) responded in the top of the fourth inning, scoring one run on two hits. Victor Sanchez got things started when he was hit by a pitch. Zach Walters then singled through the left side, which moved Sanchez to second. Jose Valerio then pushed across Sanchez on an RBI single to right field to move the score to 4-1.

Rice then scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a pair of USD fielding errors to give Rice a 7-1 lead. USD then took back one run in the bottom of the fifth inning. James Meador led off the inning with a stand-up double to right field and moved to third on a pass ball. Tony Strazzara then drove in Meador with a ground out to the short stop to cut the deficit to six at 8-2.

Rice scored their final two runs on back-to-back doubles by Seastruck and Renton to put the game at its final of 9-2.

Offensively for the Toreros, Meador led the way as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and one run scored.

Darrin Campbell (1-3) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed eight runs, five earned, on eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Mike Ojala (1-0) was credited with the win for the Owls as he allowed two runs, one earned, on eight hits in 7.2 innings of work.

The Toreros will return to action on Friday as they continue the four-game series with the Owls. First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.