Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Fueled by a four-run third inning, the USD baseball team (2-2) knocked off Notre Dame (1-5) 6-2 Friday evening at Fowler Park. Nick Sprengel held the Fighting Irish to one run on two hits to earn his second win of the season.

Jeff Houghtby got the Toreros started with a double down the left field line. After he advanced to third on an infield grounder, he came around to score on a Brandon Bielak balk.

Nick Sprengel retired the first seven batters, but then Nick Neville singled up the middle. Neville would swipe second and then advance to third on a wild pitch. Kyle Fiala knocked in the Fighting Irish's first run on a double to the gap, tying the game at 1-1.

The Toreros retook the lead in the top of the third, scoring four runs on four hits while sending nine men to the plate. Houghtby was hit by a pitch to start the inning and came around to score on a Colton Waltner double. After a Riley Adams walk, Hunter Mercado-Hood doubled down the left field line to plate Waltner and advance Adams to third. Jay Schuyler then hit a two-run single up the middle to bring the score to 5-1 USD.

Sprengel walked three batters in the top of the fourth to help Notre Dame load the bases but struck out Neville to escape the jam, his sixth of the game.

The Toreros added a run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring an unearned run on a throwing error by the Notre Dame shortstop.

The Fighting Irish got on the board in the top of the eighth. Jake Johnson doubled down the right field line and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Sean Barry was effective in relief, pitching three-plus innings, allowing just one run on two hits while strikeout out four.

After the first two batters reached in the top of the ninth, Coach Hill brought in his closer Troy Conyers, who struck out the side to earn his second save of the year.

Nick Sprengel (2-0), the reigning WCC Pitcher of the Week, allowed just two hits and struck out six batters in five innings of work to earn his second win of the year.

The Toreros forced Bielak (0-2), a top 100 prospect, to throw 103 pitches in just 3.2 innings. He allowed five runs, walked four and struck out five.

The Toreros will play two games Saturday to finish the Tony Gwynn Memorial Classic. They begin the day against UC Irvine at 10:00 a.m. and then will play Oregon at 6:00 p.m.