March 23, 2010
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Behind a 5-for-6 performance from Chris Engell, the University of San Diego baseball team had an offensive explosion in a 15-8 win over UC Riverside Tuesday afternoon in a non-conference game at USD's Cunningham Stadium.
UCR (9-7) got on the score board first as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning on two hits. The Riverside runs came on Michael Hur RBI single and a fielder's choice to give the Highlanders the early 2-0 advantage.
San Diego cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Muno got things started with a single to left field, then stole second and moved to third on a throwing error by the Riverside catcher. Engell then drove in Muno with a RBI single to centerfield to move the score to 2-1.
USD then took the lead in the bottom of the second inning score a pair of runs on two hits. The USD runs came on a Victor Sanchez sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Mike Ferraro who had singled, and a Austin Green RBI groundout to the shortstop to give the Toreros a 3-2 lead.
After Riverside regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning scoring three runs on one hit, the Toreros responded with a seven-run fourth inning. Ferraro got things started with an infield single, then stole second and moved to third on Steven Chatwood's single through the left side. Sanchez then launched his team-leading third home run of the season over the left field fence to push across the first three runs of the inning. Back-to-back walks by Green and Dillon Checkal set the table for Muno's two-run triple down the left field line to give USD a 8-5 lead. Engel kept things rolling with a RBI single through the left side, and the final run came on a bases-loaded Ferraro walk to give San Diego a comfortable 10-5 lead.
Riverside would take back two runs in the top of the fifth inning, but San Diego would respond by scoring one run in the sixth, three in the seventh and one in the eighth to put the game out of reach.
Offensively for the Toreros, Engell led the way as he went 5-for-6 with three RBI. Ferraro and Chatwood each went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Muno also had a good day at the plate as he went 3-for-6 with two RBI and a triple.
Mike Dedrick (1-0) was credited with the win on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work. Riverside's starter Trevor Frank (2-1) was saddled with the loss as he allowed eight runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Friday when they travel to Conway, S.C. to take on No. 10 Coastal Carolina in a 3 p.m. (PT) game.
