April 13, 2017 Box Score
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The No. 25 USD baseball team (23-9, 10-3) knocked off Pacific 9-5 in the first game of their three game series Thursday evening at Fowler Park. The Toreros scored three runs in each of the first three innings on their way to improving to 10-3 in conference, which puts them in a tie for first with LMU.
Both teams hit solo home runs in the first inning. The Tigers' James Free hit a solo shot to left and then Riley Adams responded in the Toreros' half of the first inning. USD scored three runs in each of the first three innings. USD's other two runs in the first came on a Kevin Collard pinch-hit two run double down the right field line.
The Tigers responded with two runs on back-to-back RBI singles from Preston Moebious and Kevin Sandri to tie the game at 3-3.
The Toreros put runners on first and second in the bottom of the second to set up a Roman Garcia two-run double down the right field line. Two batters later, Brhet Bewley brought Garcia home with a double to the right center gap.
Hunter Mercado-Hood extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two run homer to right in the bottom of the third. Jay Schuyler and Riley Adams then hit back-to-back doubles to put the Toreros up 9-3.
The Tigers scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the fourth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Matt Tarantino hit a grounder to shortstop Jeff Houghtby, who went for the force out at third base, but had a throwing error, which allowed two runs to score.
Neither team would score over the final five innings.
Nick Sprengel (6-1) earned his sixth win of the year, allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings while striking out eight. Jonathan Teaney tossed the final 2.1 innings, allowing no hits and striking out two.
The Tigers' starter Ryan Shreve was pulled after giving up four walks and three runs in the first inning. Miles Haddad (0-1) replaced him and took the loss, giving up six runs in two innings.
Game two of the series is Friday at 6:00 p.m. Lefty Chris Murphy gets the start for the Toreros.
