SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball (19-5, 5-1 WCC) earned its 19th win of the season in dominant fashion on Saturday evening at Fowler Park, beating Cal State Fullerton (10-14, 5-3 Big West) by an 8-2 margin to take the season series versus the Titans.

"That was arguably the most well-played game we've had this season," USD head coach Rich Hill said after the game. "Timely hitting, outstanding defense…I'm very proud of our effort tonight."

The Toreros answered after the Titans plated a run in the top of the fourth and never looked back, immediately responding with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame before they added another one in the sixth and five more in the seventh to secure the win.

Graduate student Thomas Luevano led the way for the Toreros at the plate, going 3-4 with three RBIs, two doubles, two runs scored, and a home run. He got the scoring started for San Diego with a double to deep center field in the bottom of the fourth, hammered a solo home run to left field in the sixth, and doubled again to drive in a run in the last half of the seventh.

"He's an older, veteran presence in our lineup," Hill said of Luevano. "It was good to see him barrel up some balls tonight."

Junior Shane McGuire and true freshmen Jack Costello and Kevin Sim each contributed multiple hits, with the two underclassmen driving in a run apiece.

Redshirt freshman Conner Thurman started the game on the mound for USD and threw seven innings of one-run ball, scattering four hits while striking out seven to receive the win on Saturday night, moving his record to 3-1 on the season. He was relieved by graduate student Kieran Shaw, who struck out three in two innings pitched out of the bullpen to finalize the 8-2 victory for San Diego.

"Conner Thurman really stepped up and got better as the game went on," Hill said of his starter's performance.

The game was televised nationally on ESPNU, and also marked the first time in 2021 that the Toreros have welcomed a limited number of fans (admitted as complimentary pass list tickets for scholar-athletes' families) to Fowler Park. No tickets will be sold to the public for the remainder of the 2021 spring season.

"We have a saying: 'We're built for this,'" Hill said of his team's ability to adjust after a whirlwind week that saw them pivot to a new opponent after a postponement and embark on an impromptu road trip to Fullerton yesterday. "That's who we are, we pride ourselves on that. Whatever happens, our toes are still tapping. When we're out of our routine, that's when we're at our best."

The Toreros return to action on Friday, April 9 when they resume West Coast Conference play in Los Angeles at LMU. First pitch at Page Stadium is set for 6 p.m.