April 27, 2012

Box Score

PORTLAND Ore. - The 16th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team's two-run ninth-inning rally came up short in a 5-4 loss to the University of Portland Friday afternoon in a West Coast Conference game at Joe Etzel Field.

After the Pilots managed to score a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to grab a 5-2 led, USD (32-10 9-4 WCC) dug in and went to work trying to rally back. Jon Hotta got things started with a lead-off single followed by a Kris Bryant single to give USD two on with no outs. Corey LeVier then drilled a RBI single to centerfield scoring Hotta and giving the Toreros some hope. AJ Robinson then reached on a fielder's choice, which moved Bryant to third and Victor Rasor-Thomson, who was pinch running for LeVier, was out at second. Andrew Daniel then drove in the next run on a RBI single, but the Toreros could get no closer leaving the game at its final of 5-4.

The Toreros struck first as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning. After Hotta reached on a fielder's choice, Bryant moved Hotta to second. Both runners then advanced one base on wild pitch and Robinson drove in both runners with a two-run single to left field to give USD an early 2-0 lead.

The Pilots (22-15 9-7 WCC) then got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead. All three runs came on wild pitches to give the Pilots a 3-2 advantage.

Offensively for the Toreros, Robinson led the way as he went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Bryant also had a good day at the plate going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Dylan Covey (6-3) was saddled with the loss on the mound for the Toreros as he allowed three runs on eight hits, while striking out five in 7.0 innings of work. Portland's Kyle Krause (6-3) picked up the win for the Pilots as he allowed four runs two earned, on eight hits in 9.0 innings of work.

The Toreros will return to action on Saturday as they continue this three-game WCC series with the Pilots at 1 p.m.