March 20, 2011
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego baseball team forced extra innings with the University of Oregon, but fell 6-4 in 10 complete innings of a non-conference game at Cunningham Stadium Sunday afternoon. With the loss, the Toreros fall to 4-14 overall, and run their losing streak to six. With the win, the Ducks improve to 11-7 overall and capture the four-game series with USD.
After San Diego rallied to scored one run in the ninth inning to force extra innings, the Ducks were able to push across two runs to claim the win. In the top of the 10th inning, Oregon got the first two runners on by a walk and a hit batter. After a balk was called on USD, both runners advanced one base, then USD elected to intentionally walk Aaron Jones to load the bases with one out. Kyle Garlick then hit an RBI infield single to push across the go-ahead run, and the final run of the game came on a Ryon Healy sacrifice fly to to centerfield to put the game at its final of 6-4.
The Ducks got on the scoreboard first, as they pushed across four runs on two hits in the top of the fourth inning. The Oregon runs came on a bases-loaded walk, and a three-run triple by Tyler Kuresa to give the Ducks a 4-0 lead.
The Toreros then came roaring back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Jon Hotta got things started by drawing a walk to lead off the frame. Zach Sullivan then moved Hotta to third on a double to left center field, and Julian Duran drove in Hotta with a RBI ground out to the shortstop. Dillon Checkal then drove in Sullivan with a RBI groundout to the shortstop to cut the lead in half. Kevin Muno then kept things rolling as he drew a two-out walk, and he moved to second on a Kris Bryant single to the third baseman, and Muno wound up on third off a throwing error by the Oregon third baseman. Zack Kometani then brought in Muno with a RBI single up the middle to move the score to 4-3.
Then for a third straight game, the Toreros put on their rally caps in the ninth inning, as they scored one run to force a 10th inning. The Torero run came on Kometani RBI single through the left side, scoring Muno, who reached on a fielder's choice, to tie the game at 4-4.
Offensively for the Toreros, Sullivan led the way as he went 3-for-4 with one double, while Checkal, Kometani and Haar all recorded multiple hits on the day.
USD's starter Chris Jensen tossed perhaps his best game as a Torero, going a career-high 9.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits, while striking out a career-high eight in a no-decision. Haar (0-1) was saddled with the loss for the Toreros, as he allowed two runs on no hits in 0.0 innings of work. Oregon's Kellen Moen (1-1) was credited with the win for the Ducks, as he allowed no runs on one hit in 1.1 innings of work.
The Toreros and Ducks will conclude their four-game series on Monday with a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Cunningham Stadium.
