March 15, 2012
Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The University of San Diego men's baseball team put on a hitting clinic Thursday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium, upending Columbia 14-5 in the first game of the four-game series.
San Diego (15-5) put together 19 hits and every Torero who came to the plate scored in their ninth win in the last 11 games. The Toreros were paced offensively by Louie Lechich, who went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored, while Kris Bryant went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Freshman Connor Joe sent a homerun over the left field fence in the fifth inning, finishing 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Dillon Haupt also added 4 RBI.
Columbia (2-9) struck first blood in the top of the first inning. Jordon Serena walked to lead off the game and stole second, eventually scoring on a fielder's choice to take the 1-0 lead. The Toreros responded in the bottom of the first with three runs of their own to take the 3-1 lead. The Lions tagged on two more runs in the top of the second to even the score at 3-3 on an error and an infield hit.
The game remained tied 3-3 until the bottom of the fifth. Louie Lechich doubled to right center, stole third base and eventually scored on a ground out by Dillon Haupt to take the 4-3 lead. Joe's home run extended the lead to 5-3 before San Diego put the game out of reach in the bottom of the sixth, scoring six runs on five hits.
Toreros starting pitcher Calvin Drummond (4-1) was sharp in his 6.2 innings of work. Drummond allowed five hits and one earned run to go along with five strikeouts.
Lions starting pitcher Pat Lowery (0-3) was saddled with the loss in his five innings of work. He gave up two earned runs on eight hits.
Five other Toreros (Lucas Hagberg, Austin Bailey, Corey LaVier, Andrew Daniel, and Bryan Haar) finished with at least two hits. The Toreros return to action tomorrow at Cunningham Stadium for a doubleheader starting at noon.
