May 6, 2009
Box Score
TEMPE, Ariz. - The University of San Diego baseball team dropped a 7-6 decision to No. 4 Arizona State University Wednesday afternoon in a non-conference game at Packard Stadium.
The Sun Devils (35-11) wasted no time in scoring, as they got on the scoreboard first with two runs on one hit in the first inning. The ASU runs came on a USD fielding error and a Matt Newman RBI groundout to the second baseman to give ASU an early 2-0 lead.
San Diego (27-23) answered back in the top of the second inning scoring one run on Chris Engell's third home run of the season, a solo shot over the left field fence, to move his hitting streak to 13 games and cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The Sun Devils then added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Zack MacPhee reached on a fielder choice, which scored Newman, who had doubled, to give ASU a 3-1 lead.
The Toreros responded with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie things up. With two outs, Sean Nicol got things started with a walk and moved to second on a James Meador single through the left side. After Zach Walters loaded the bases with an infield single, Bryan Haar drove in two runs with a single to right centerfield to knot the score at 3-3.
ASU then put up three runs in their half of the fifth inning on three hits. The Sun Devil runs came on a Carlos Ramirez sacrifice fly to right field, a Riccio Torrez run-scoring double to centerfield and a Newman RBI single to give USD a 6-3 advantage.
USD didn't fade away, as they responded with three runs in the top of the sixth inning. Engell got things started with a single through the right side and moved to second when Austin Green reached on an ASU fielding error. Tony Strazzara then drove in Engell with a RBI single up the middle, which moved Green to second. Brian Farris then moved each runner up a base on a sacrifice bunt, and Nicol grounded out to the shortstop, which drove in Green for the second run of the inning. Meador then drove in the third run on a RBI single to center field to knot the score at 6-6.
The Sun Devils would regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring one run on a bases-loaded wild pitch to take a 7-6 lead.
Offensively for the Toreros, Engell led the way as he went 4-for-5 with one home run and one RBI.
The Toreros will return to action on Friday as they host the University of San Francisco in a 3 p.m. game to kick off a crucial West Coast Conference Series at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
