May 27, 2011
Box Score
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Loyola Marymount University rallied back to defeat the University of San Diego baseball team, 5-4, in 10 innings Friday afternoon in a West Coast Conference game at Paige Stadium.
After the Lions rallied back to score one run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, LMU was able to push across one run on a Jonathan Johnson sacrifice fly to center field, which scored Colton Plaia, who had singled, to give the Lions (29-25, 9-10 WCC) the come-from-behind victory.
The Toreros (22-29, 11-8 WCC) got on the scoreboard first, as they pushed across two runs on three hits in the top of the second inning. Bryan Haar got things started with a triple to right field. Two batters later, Corey LeVier doubled in Haar for the first run of the game and LeVier would move to third on Tony Strazzara's single to centerfield. Julian Duran then laid down a RBI sacrifice bunt to score LeVier and give the Toreros an early 2-0 advantage.
LMU then cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning as they scored one run on a Matt Koch RBI ground out to the shortstop, which scored Nick Truhan, who had singled, moving the score to 2-1.
The Lions would then take the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring two runs on three hits. The LMU runs came on a Joe Vierra two-run homer, which scored Koch, who reached on an error, to give the Lions a 3-2 advantage.
San Diego then answered back in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs on no hits. Zach Sullivan reached on an error, and he moved to second when Kris Bryant was hit by a pitch. Zack Kometani then reached on a fielding error by the LMU shortstop, which scored Sullivan from second and moved Bryant to third. Haar then drove in Bryant with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give USD back the lead at 4-3.
Loyola Marymount refused to go away, as they put on their rally caps and managed to tie the game up at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to a one-out Alex Guthrie solo home run to left field, which forced extra innings.
Offensively for the Toreros, Strazzara led the way as he went 2-for-3, while Kevin Muno was the only other Torero to record multiple hits as he went 2-for-5.
James Pazos (3-4) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros as he allowed two runs on three hits in 2.1 innings of work. Chris Eusebio (1-1) was credited with the win for the Lions, as he allowed no runs on one hit in 1.0 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they continue the final three-game WCC series of the season at LMU. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
