Final Stats

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The University of San Diego baseball team (11-8) picked up a 6-3 victory over the Columbia University Lions (2-8) on Wednesday at Fowler Park. Sean Barry (1-0) earned his first win of the season for the Toreros and Nathan Kuchta (1) earned the save.

The Lions scratched across a run in the top of the first but the Toreros quickly answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Tyler Kirby, who drove in nine runs on Tuesday, scored Bryson Brigman with a sacrifice fly to left field. Brigman reached with a single, stole second and advance to third on a Riley Adams single before Kirby's RBI. Adams reached second on a throwing error and later scored on a Hunter Mercado-Hood single. Mercado-Hood highlighted the Toreros' offensive efforts going 2-for-4 on the night with 3 RBI.

The Toreros and Lions were tied heading into the fifth inning with two runs apiece, but in the bottom of the frame USD built what would prove to be an insurmountable lead.

After two outs on just seven pitches the Toreros mounted a rally starting with a Brigman single up the middle followed by Adams being hit by a pitch. Kirby then lined a grounder to first base but the Lion defender failed to field the ball allowing the inning to continue and Brigman to score. Mercado-hood came up with a huge 2 RBI double with runners on first and third to bring the Torero lead to three. The bottom of the fifth concluded after USD scored three runs on two hits and built a 5-2 lead.

Third baseman Jerod Smith drove in the teams' sixth run with an RBI double that scored Daniel Gardner. Gardner finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and one run scored.

Head Coach Rich Hill's pitching staff came up with clutch pitches all night as they stymied every Columbia rally. Starter Gary Cornish struck out four in his two innings of work before Barry, who earned the decision, struck out two of the four batters he faced on the evening. Jonathan Teaney also had the strike out pitch working as he came through with three consecutive swinging-strikeouts to retire the Lions in the bottom of the seventh with two men on. Kuchta allowed one hit and struck out one in the bottom of the ninth as he sealed the USD win.

The Toreros will host Saint Mary's on Friday at 6 p.m. as they open their conference schedule with three home games against the Gaels.