TEMPE, Ariz. – Junior Shane McGuire hit a two-run double in the top of the ninth but San Diego was unable to complete the comeback in a 4-5 loss to Pepperdine on Friday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
 
Sophomores Jake Miller and Jack Dolak each totaled five strikeouts for the Toreros (0-1) on college baseball's opening day.
 
In addition to his five strikeouts, Miller went 2.1 shutout innings while giving up two hits and walking one for USD. Dolak's five strikeouts came in addition to his 2.2 innings of one-run ball where he allowed two hits while walking four.
 
McGuire led the way offensively for the Toreros, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and two RBIs. Freshman Michael Dixon II put together a standout performance in his first career start, going 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Senior Paul Kunst finished 1-for-5 for USD with an RBI and sophomore Cody Jefferis finished 2-for-4.
 
The Toreros got the scoring started early, putting runs on the board in the top of the first. Kunst singled up the middle, scoring McGuire from second base.
 
After the Waves (1-0) rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Toreros came back to re-take the lead in the fourth inning.
 
Dixon II collected his first career hit and RBI with a single to center, which brought the Toreros lead to 2-1.
 
San Diego's lead had evaporated by the time the ninth inning arrived and turned into a 5-2 Pepperdine advantage, before USD mounted a comeback.
 
The Toreros drove two runs across on a two-run double from McGuire that brought home Jefferis and Dixon II. USD came close to tying the game after junior Tora Otsuka singled up the middle, but pinch-runner Camden Vasquez was thrown out at the plate, attempting to score from second.
 
The Toreros are back in action on Saturday for the second game of the Angels College Classic, when they will take on Oregon at 4:30 p.m. PT.
 
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