April 13, 2014
Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - The University of San Diego baseball team pounded out 14 hits en route to a 13-2 win over the University of Portland Sunday afternoon in a West Coast Conference game at Joe Etzel Field.
With the win, the Toreros improve to 25-10 overall, move to 11-4 in the WCC, and have captured the three-game series over the Pilots. With the loss, Portland falls to 8-29 overall, and fall to 2-13 in the WCC.
The Toreros got on the scoreboard first, as they pushed across four runs on two hits in the top of the second inning. Austin Bailey got things started, as he singled to right field. Kyle Holder then reached on a fielder's choice, and on the same play, Bailey reached second on an error by the Portland shortstop. Two batters later, Ben Wylly drew a walk to load the bases, then Grant Melker was walked to score the first run. Connor Joe then doubled down the left field line to clear the bases, giving USD a 4-0 lead.
Portland took back a run in the bottom of the second inning on a Chet Thompson RBI groundout to the second baseman, which scored Devin Kopas, who had doubled, to move the score to 4-1.
After both teams scored one run in the third inning, the Toreros broke open the game with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. The USD runs came on a Holder RBI single and a Jesse Jenner 2-run single to give USD all the momentum, and a 7-1 lead.
USD then put the game out of reach with four runs in the seventh and they capped their scoring for the day with one run in the top of the ninth, to put the game at its final of 13-2.
Offensively for the Toreros, Joe led the way, as he went 2-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI. Holder also had a great day, as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Jenner went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Louie Lechich (7-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Toreros, as he allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits, while striking gout six in 8.0 innings of work. Portland's starter Kurt Yinger (0-5) was saddled with the loss for the Pilots, as he allowed eight runs on eight hits in 4.1 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Monday, as they remain in Oregon and travel to Eugene to take on No. 25 University of Oregon in a 3 p.m. non-conference game at PK Park.
