Box Score

USD vs PEP May 20

SAN DIEGO -- The USD Toreros handed visiting Pepperdine a 9-3 loss tonight at Fowler Park in WCC action. San Diego used a 4-run 4th inning and 5-run fifth to gain control of the game. Jeff Houghtby and Paul Kunst each supplied 3-run homers to power the Toreros offense. Jonathan Teaney replaced starter Nick Sprengel and closed out the final 4.1 innings to improve to 5-1 on the season out of the bullpen.

Pepperdine scored a run in the top of the first to take the early lead. Jeremy Goldenetz opened the game with a double and would eventually score from third when Ben Rodriguez singled up the middle.

The score would stay 1-0 until the bottom of the 4th when USD powered two home runs on their way to scoring four runs. Roman Garcia opened the inning with his 14th homer and 53rd RBI as he blasted one to left field. With one out Kevin Collard and Brhet Bewley hit back-to-back singles. Jeff Houghtby then stepped to the plate and hit a 3-run line drive homer down the right field line to put the Toreros ahead 4-1.

The Waves added two runs in the 5th and would eventually knock starter Nick Sprengel out of the game with two outs. Pepperdine opened with a walk and two singles before Rodriguez hit into a double play that plated Goldenetz. Matt Gelelich would then knock a ground rule double to right that scored Aaron Barnett from third. Jonathan Teaney came in and got Josh Davis out to end the inning.

The Toreros used singles by Riley Adams, Colton Waltner, Brhet Bewley (RBI) and Jeff Houghtby (RBI) to go ahead 6-3. And the Toreros took control of the game in a big way when Paul Kunst blasted a 3-run homer to left to increase USD's lead to 9-3. It was the first career homer for Kunst, a redshirt freshman from Novato, California.

Offensively the Toreros were paced by the bottom third of the lineup. The final three batters supplied 6 hits, 5 runs and 8 RBIs. Bewley went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI; Houghtby finished 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBIs; and Kunst was 1-for-4 with 1 run and 3 RBIs. Teaney finished with six strikeouts and surrendered just 1 hit while shutting out the Waves.

The series wraps up on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. It is Senior Day and seven Toreros will be recognized in a pre-game ceremony begging at 12:45 pm. San Diego is still tied with Saint Mary's College for 4th place in the WCC standings. The Toreros need a win coupled with a Saint Mary's loss on Sunday to earn a spot in next week's WCC Tournament.