Feb. 28, 2012
Box Score
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The University of San Diego baseball team (6-2) scored five unanswered runs to rally from behind and claim a 8-5 non-conference win over UC Riverside (3-5) Tuesday evening at the Riverside Sports Complex.
The Toreros got on the scoreboard first, as they managed to score one run on two hits in the top of the second. Corey LeVier got things started with a double down the left field line, and he moved to third when Bryan Haar hit a bloop single to left field, which also allowed Haar to reach second on the throw. Louie Lechich drew a walk to load the bases and Austin Bailey then drove in LeVier on a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give USD a 1-0 lead.
San Diego then doubled their lead in the top of the third inning. Kris Bryant drew a walk, then stole second. After Haar drew a walk, Lechich drove in Bryant with a bloop single to shallow left field to give USD a 2-0 lead.
The Toreros offense continued to roll in the top of the fourth inning. Dillon Haupt got things rolling with a stand-up triple to left field. Haupt then stole home to give USD a 3-0 lead.
Riverside then evened the score in the bottom of the fourth inning, as they scored three runs on two hits. The UCR runs came on a Jake Galloway two-run triple to left field and USD fielding error to move the score to 3-3.
After UCR took the lead by scoring one run in each of the fifth and seventh innings, the Toreros responded with two runs in the top of the eighth inning. Back-to-back singles by LeVier and Haar got things started. After a Lechich sacrifice bunt moved up both runners, back-to-back RBI singles by Andrew Daniel and Julian Duran pushed across two runs to even the score at 5-5.
In the top of the ninth, Jon Hotta got things started with a walk. Two batters later, Bryant roped a run-scoring double to left center, scoring Hotta from first. LeVier then drove in Bryant with an RBI single to left center for an insurance run. Haar then doubled down the left field line and a Lechich sacrifice fly to left put the game at its final of 8-5.
Offensively for the Toreros, Haar led the way as he went 3-for-4 with one double, while LeVier went 3-for-5 a double and one RBI.
James Pazos (1-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed no runs on no hits in 1.0 innings of work. Michael Wagner picked up his fourth save of the season, as he allowed no runs on no hits in 1.0 innings of work. Joie Dunyon (1-1) was saddled with the loss for the Highlanders as he allowed three runs on three hits in 0.2 innings of work.
San Diego will return to action on Thursday at 3 p.m. as they take on Cal State Northridge at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
