May 1, 2010
Box Score
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - A 6-run top of the 12th inning lifted the 24th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team to a thrilling 10-4 victory over the University of San Francisco Saturday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
With the win, the Toreros remain undefeated in the WCC at 11-0, while moving to 25-16 overall. With the loss, the Dons fall to 22-22 overall and fall to 5-5 in the WCC.
With the game tied at 4-4 heading into the top of the 12th inning, San Diego went to work. With one out, Nick McCoy got things started with a single to left center. Kalei Hanawahine then launched a run-scoring triple to centerfield, which pushed across McCoy and began the offensive explosion. After Zach Walters was intentionally walked, back to back hit batters then pushed across Hanawahine for the second runoff the inning. Chris Engell then pushed across the next two runs on a two-run single, and the final two runs came on RBI singles by James Meador and Dillon Checkal to put the game at its final of 10-4.
The Toreros wasted no time in scoring as they pushed across one run on two hits in the first inning. Kevin Muno got things started with a lead-off single to left center, and he moved to second on a steal. After Tony Strazzara drew a walk, James Meador would load the bases with an infield single. Zack Kometani then drove in Muno with a slow rolling ground out to the second baseman to give the Toreros an early 1-0 lead.
USD then score a pair of runs in the top of the third inning on a Strazzara run-scoring double, and a Kometani RBI single to give the Toreros all the momentum with a 3-0 lead.
The Dons would begin to chip away at the lead scoring one run in the fourth, one in the fifth and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take its first lead of the series at 4-3.
San Diego would then respond with one run in the top of the sixth inning to tie things up on a Muno RBI single to set up the dramatic finish.
Sammy Solis turned in one of his most dominating performance of his career in a no-decision as he allowed four runs, two earned, on five hits, while striking out nine in the longest outing of his career, 9.0 innings. Matt Thomson (1-2) then came in and continued to shut down the Dons as he picked up his first win of the season, allowing no runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of work. Matt Hiserman (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Dons as he allowed six runs on nine hits in 4.0 innings of work.
Offensively for the Toreros, Meador led the way as he went 5-for-7 with one RBI. Muno also had a good day at the plate as he went 3-for-6 with two RBI.
San Diego and USF will return to action on Sunday as they conclude the three-game series at Benedetti Diamond with a 1 p.m. game.
