April 17, 2009
Box Score
MORAGA, Calif. - The 24th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team dropped its series-opener, 14-4, to Saint Mary's College in a West Coast Conference game Friday afternoon.
The Gaels (22-17, 4-6 WCC) got on the scoreboard first, as they scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning on a Kyle Jensen three-run homer to give SMC an early 3-0 lead.
After the Gaels scored another run in the bottom of the second inning, the Toreros (24-14, 7-3 WCC) answered in the top of the fifth inning on a Michael Lugo solo home run to cut the lead to 4-1.
The Gaels then scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning on a run scoring doubles by Jensen and Justin Fazio, a USD fielding error and a Michael Gastelum run-scoring double to take a 8-1 lead.
After the Gaels scored five runs in the sixth inning to take 13-1 lead, the Toreros would respond with a three-run top of the seventh inning to cut the lead to 13-4. Lugo led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Sean Nicol double to left centerfield. Chris Engell kept things going with a single up the middle, which moved Nicol to third. After Engell stole second, James Meador drove in Nicol and Engell with a two-run single to centerfield to cap the scoring for the inning.
The Gaels would add one more run n the bottom of the eighth to put the game at its final of 14-4.
Offensively for the Toreros, Meador led the way as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Nicol, Engell and Zach Walters went 2-for-5 as the other three USD players to record multiple hits.
AJ Griffin (6-2) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits, while striking out five in 5.0 innings of work. Brian Justice (6-2) was credited with the win on the mound for the Gaels as he allowed fur runs on 11 hits in 6.0 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they continue the three-game series with the Gaels at 1 p.m.
