March 22, 2009
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Brown University rallied to score two runs in the top of the ninth inning to claim a 9-8 win over the University of San Diego baseball team Sunday afternoon in a non-conference game at Cunningham Stadium.
With the loss, the Toreros fall to 14-10 overall and see their season-high six-game winning streak come to an end. With the win, the Bears improve to 2-7 overall.
With the Toreros leading 9-8 heading into the top of the ninth inning, the Bears scored two runs on a Robert Papenhause RBI single and a Mike DiBiase fly to left field to give the Bears a 9-8 lead.
San Diego got on the score board first by scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the third inning. Tony Strazzara led off the inning with a infield single and moved to third on a Sean Nicol double to left center. Chris Engell drove in Strazzara on a groundout to the shortstop, which also moved Nicol to third. After James Meador and Victor Sanchez were each hit by a pitch, Brian Farris hit a two-run single to right centerfield to give USD a 3-0 lead.
Brown broke up USD's Matt Thomson's no-hitter in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run homer by Matt Nuzzo to cut the lead to one at 3-2.
Brown then scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning on Graham Tyler run-scoring double, a Ryan Zrenda RBI single and a Nuzzo bases-loaded walk to give the Bears a 5-3 lead.
San Diego then responded in their half of the inning by scoring five runs on four hits. Nicol was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to third on a Engell infield single. Meador drove in Nicol with a RBI single through the right side. After Engell and Meador advanced one base on a balk, Farris drew a walk to load the bases. Austin Green then drove in the next two runs with a two-out two-run single up the middle, and advanced to second on the throw, which also moved Farris to third. Strazzara then drove in the final two runs on a two-run single to right field to give USD a 8-5 lead.
Brown took back a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to round out their scoring for the day.
Offensively for the Toreros, Strazzara led the way as he went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Thomson looked impressive on the mound for the Toreros, as he took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts, in a no decision. Scott Denault (3-2) was saddled with the loss for the Toreros, as he allowed two runs on four hits in 2.0 innings of work. Conor Burke (1-0) was credited with the win for the Bears, as he allowed no runs on one hit in 1.0 innings of work. Matthew Kimball picked up his second save of the season as he allowed no runs on one hit in 1.0 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Monday as they conclude the four-game series with the Bears in a 3 p.m. game at Cunningham Stadium.
