March 19, 2011
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego baseball team put up two ninth-innings rallies in a double-header with the University of Oregon Saturday afternoon, but fell short in both losing the games by the final score of 6-3 and 10-7 in the first two non-conference games of a four-game set with the Ducks at Cunningham Stadium.
In game one, Oregon (10-7) got on the scoreboard first, as they pushed across three runs on a Kyle Garlick three-run homer to left field, which scored Ryon Healy, who singled, and Shawn Peterson, who doubled, to give Oregon the early 3-0 lead.
Oregon would then tack on two more runs in he fifth and added a final run in the top of the ninth to take a commanding 6-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Toreros (4-13), who only had two hits to this point, dug in and looked to put on a late rally. With one out, Zack Kometani got things started with a single to centerfield. Kris Bryant then doubled to centerfield, which moved Kometani to third. Dillon Checkal then hit an RBI single to the shortstop to spoil the shutout, which moved Bryant to third. Two batters and one pitching change later, Zach Sullivan drove in Bryant with a RBI single to centerfield, which moved Checkal to third. Danny Hawksley then drove in Checkal with a RBI single up the middle, but that is as close as USD would get, leaving the game at its final of 6-3.
Offensively for the Toreros, seven different players recorded one hit with Checkal, Sullivan and Hawksley all picking up an RBI each.
James Pazos (1-2) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed five runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings of work. Taylor Anderson (3-0) was credited with the win, as he allowed no runs on two hits in 8.0 innings of work. Scott McGough picked up his second save of the season, as he allowed no runs on no hits in 0.1 innings of work.
In the second game, it was a back and forth affair. As Oregon again jumped out to an early lead. The Ducks pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the second inning to take the early momentum. The Ducks runs came on a Connor Hofmann RBI single, and a KC Serna sacrifice fly to right field.
After the Ducks scored one run in each of the third and fourth innings, the Toreros responded in the bottom of the first inning by scoring one run on a Bryant solo home run to left field to cut the lead down to three at 4-1.
USD then cut the deficit down to two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as Julian Duran got things started with a single to right field, and he moved to second on a fielding error by the right fielder. Kometani then singled through the left side to push across Duran and move the score to 4-2.
Oregon then added one run in the top of the seventh and two more in the top of the eighth, while USD scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth to move the score to 10-5.
San Diego once again dug in and put their rally caps on in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Kevin Muno got the ball rolling with a single to centerfield. After Muno moved up one base on a fielder's choice, Kometani singled through the left side, moving Muno to third. Bryan Haar then drove in Muno with a RBI single through the left side, moving the score to 10-6. After a pitching change, a wild pitch would move Kometani to third and Haar to second. Checkal then drove in Kometani with a RBI groundout to the third baseman, but USD could not manage to score any more runs, leaving the game at its final of 10-7.
Bryant led the USD offense as he went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two home runs. Both Kometani and Muno also had good days at the plate, as they both went 3-for-5, with Kometani adding in a pair of RBI.
USD starter Paul Sewald (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Toreros, as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 5.0 innings of work. Joey Housey (2-0) picked up the win for the Ducks as he allowed three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work, and Kellen Moen picked up his third save of the season, as he allowed no runs on no hits in 0.2 innings of work.
The Toreros and Ducks will resume the series on Sunday as they play a 11 a.m. game at Cunningham Stadium.
