SAN DIEGO—San Diego battled back to defeat Nebraska 12-11 on Friday night in its opening game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament.
 
After falling behind early, the Toreros (4-1) combined to score eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure their fourth-straight victory.
 
Cody Jefferis had a standout performance at the plate for the Toreros, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Shane McGuire extended a five-game hitting streak, going 3-for-5 scoring three runs and driving in two more for USD.
 
Freshman Conner Thurman (2-0) got the win out of the bullpen for USD, ending the game with a three-pitch strikeout to seal the victory. The right-hander went two innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on four hits, allowing two walks and striking out three.
 
The Huskers (1-3) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, after putting up six runs in the top of the third.
 
Adam Kerner put the Toreros on the board with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to cut into Nebraska's lead. The Toreros chipped away at the lead, scoring another run in the fifth before a five-run seventh inning evened up the game at 9-9.
 
The Cornhuskers broke the tie and took the lead heading into the eighth inning, before San Diego got back on the scoreboard. The Toreros added three runs, including a run-scoring triple from Jefferis, to make it 12-10.
 
Nebraska threatened again in the top of the ninth, pulling within one with runners on the corners and two outs, but a three-pitch strikeout from Thurman ended the rally and clinched the victory for USD.
 
San Diego returns to Fowler Park on Saturday night in their second game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy Tournament, taking on Seattle at 6 p.m. PT.
 
This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.