SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball (1-2, 0-0 WCC) scored 13 unanswered runs to power past crosstown rival San Diego State (2-1, 0-0 MWC) late Sunday afternoon, winning their home opener by a 16-12 margin at Fowler Park.

The victory was the culmination of a furious comeback by the Toreros, who at one point trailed by nine runs. Staring down a 12-3 deficit early on, USD began to chip away in the sixth inning, adding three runs in the frame on a wild pitch, a double by Cody Jefferis, and Kevin Sim's first RBI in a Torero uniform. The late-game surge continued in the seventh, when USD plated three courtesy of a pair of RBI groundouts, a hit by pitch, and a passed ball.

In a weekend full of offense, it would be two bunts that set the stage for San Diego's biggest moments of the series, which came in a decisive six-run eighth inning on Sunday. Camden Vasquez and Tora Otsuka each laid down back-to-back textbook bunts, bringing USD to within one run of SDSU before Thomas Luevano evened the game at 12 runs apiece with an RBI single. Jefferis then came through in a clutch at-bat, sending a single to centerfield that moved the score to USD 13, SDSU 12. San Diego wouldn't trail again, though it would go on to add four more insurance runs for good measure.

Shane McGuire and Luevano both launched home runs in the game. For McGuire, the two-run blast that landed deep into the Manchester Village Apartments beyond right field was his first of the season, while Luevano's line drive over the left field fence was his second of the season, and his second in as many days. The graduate outfielder led the Toreros with three hits, and was a triple short of the cycle. Jefferis' three RBIs were the most by any USD player, while seven Toreros in total recorded a hit.

Grady Miller started the game on the mound for San Diego, throwing 3 1/3 innings and surrendering six earned runs. A tandem of Lucas Braun and Jack Dolak took over for him in relief, with the pair combining for 2 2/3 innings and six runs allowed.

Freshman Ivran Romero, a local talent out of Poway High School, turned in the Toreros' most impressive pitching performance of the 2021 season so far to conclude the game. The 5-10 righty threw the final three innings of the contest for San Diego, allowing zero runs and just one hit behind zero walks and three strikeouts. Romero earned the win, while SDSU's Casey O'Sullivan was saddled with the loss.

USD baseball returns to action at 3 p.m. on Friday, February 26 for the first matchup of a three-game series versus Cal State Fullerton at Fowler Park. The three-game set will be played as part of the Tony Gwynn Classic tournament.