SAN DIEGO—San Diego could not overcome an early deficit and fell to Long Beach State, 5-4, on Tuesday evening at Fowler Park.
The Toreros (21-12) were behind early after the Dirtbags (5-26) put up two runs in the first and three runs in the third to take a 5-0 lead. USD rallied to score two runs in the fourth and an additional run in the sixth and the eighth to make it a one-run game.
In the bottom of the ninth,
Cody Jefferis hit a single to center field with one out and advanced twice on wild pitches to represent the tying run at third base.
Kevin Collard pinch hit and sent a high chopper to the second baseman who threw Jefferis out at the plate.
Paul Kunst then drew a walk to put runners on first and second, but the Torero rally came up just short when
Shane McGuire sent a fly ball to the LBSU left fielder for the final out of the game.
The Toreros finished with seven hits and seven men left on base.
Jeff Houghtby and
Chris McCready each finished with two RBIs for USD, with Houghtby going 2-for-4 in the contest.
Ripken Reyes hit his eight double of the season and added a run in the fourth.
McGuire scored three of USD's four runs, going 1-for-4 with a walk, while Jefferis came in as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and finished 2-for-2 on the night.
Louie Crow (1-1, 9.19 ERA) got the start for USD, while seven Toreros came out of the bullpen in relief of the righthander. San Diego gave up nine hits, four walks and hit three batters, finishing with four strikeouts in the contest.
The Toreros will now hit the road for a weekend series with the WCC's top-ranked team, LMU, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. PT.
