May 8, 2010
Box Score
Portland, Ore.- With an offense manufacturing runs with sacrifice flies and bunts while starter Sammy Solis throwing a four-hit, complete-game gem, the 22nd-ranked University of San Diego baseball team defeated the University of Portland Pilots 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field in game two of the three-game WCC series. The Toreros (29-16, 14-0 WCC) extended their winning streak to six games and improve their lead over Portland (31-11, 11-3 WCC) in the WCC standings to three games.
The left-handed Solis (8-1) followed up his 9.0 innings-pitched outing against USF from last weekend with the complete game victory this afternoon, allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out a season-high 10 while not walking any Portland batters. The Toreros are 10-1 in Solis' 11 starts this season.
After a 1-2-3 first inning, Solis allowed lead-off hits to open both the second and third innings. Beau Fraser hit a lead-off single in the second, and Matt Mardesich doubled down the left field line to begin the third, but both inning-opening hits proved to be fruitless for the Pilots. The Toreros defense, with a force out at second on an unsuccessful sacrifice-bunt attempt by Rocky Gale in the second and a double play turned by right fielder James Meador and shortstop Zach Walters on a Nick Armenta line out to Meador in the third, assisted their starting pitcher and halted any possible Portland rally in the two frames. Solis also did his own part by striking out back-to-back hitters to end the second and inducing a Kris Kauppila fly out to cease the third.
After hitting Garrett Queen with a pitch in the fifth, Solis went on to retire eight-straight, including five with strikeouts, before surrendering a solo home run hit by Austin Pearce on a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the eighth to trim USD's lead to 3-1.
The Toreros opened up the game's scoring in the top of the sixth when Chris Engell and Meador began the inning with a single each. Both were advanced a base after Tony Strazzara laid down a successful sacrifice bunt down the third-base line. With Engell on third and Meador on second, Nick McCoy singled to left field to drive in Engell and give the Toreros a 1-0 lead. Walters added the inning's second run with a sacrifice fly to the left fielder Pearce in foul territory to plate Meador.
The seventh inning was a similar story as the sixth for the Toreros offense as USD was able to place runners on second and third with one out. After a lead-off single by Ferraro, Kevin Muno, attempting a sacrifice bunt, reached base on a throwing error by Portland starting pitcher Owen Jones (4-2). Scott Schauer, pinch-hitting for Checkall, moved over Ferraro and Muno with a sacrifice bunt, where Engell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Ferraro and make it 3-0.
The Toreros added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth when Muno drove in pinch-runner Kalei Hanawahine with a double to right-center and Meador was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Muno and extend the Toreros' lead to 5-1. Hanawahine pinch-ran for Ferraro, who opened the inning with a double of his own. Ferraro's double to start the inning was the Toreros fourth lead-off hit of the game.
Muno and Ferraro each had a game-high three hits, with Muno going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run while Ferraro was 3-for-4 with a run scored.
With the series win already in hand, USD will go for the sweep over Portland on Sunday, May 9th. First pitch for the series' final game is set for 1 p.m.
