San Diego (31-16, 16-8 WCC)  •  Gonzaga (32-14, 18-6 WCC)
Fowler Park (1,700) • San Diego, California
Live Stream • WCC Network |  Live Statistics  • USDToreros.com
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SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball will conclude its regular-season schedule this weekend with a critical West Coast Conference series against Gonzaga, taking on the Bulldogs at Fowler Park in a three-game set that will determine the WCC's regular-season champion.

The series is set to begin on Friday night with a 6 p.m. matchup that will mark San Diego's Senior/Graduation Celebration, with the Toreros set to honor the 11 members of its 2022 graduating class before the game. Action will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. before the series finale gets going approximately 40 minutes after the last out of Saturday's first game. One ticket is valid for both contests on Saturday.

All three games are set to be streamed live on the WCC Network, with Jack Cronin and Braden Surprenant on the call. Live statistics will be available on USDToreros.com.

SETTING THE STAGE
•San Diego can win its sixth West Coast Conference Championship and its first since 2015 with a sweep of Gonzaga and a single Pepperdine win versus Portland.

•With a San Diego sweep of Gonzaga and a Portland sweep at Pepperdine, the Toreros and the Pilots would finish tied for first in the conference and share the regular season title, but the tiebreaker for the WCC Tournament's No. 1 overall seed would go to Portland after it took two of three from USD at Joe Etzel Field in early April.

•At worst, San Diego will enter next week's WCC Tournament as a No. 4 seed.

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS GONZAGA
•The Toreros are 51-41-1 against the Bulldogs all-time, with the two programs' most recent meeting coming in San Diego's final game of 2021, a 10-2 USD win in Spokane.

•That series saw San Diego rally to take two of three at Gonzaga, beating the Bulldogs 9-0 on Saturday after a tough 10-0 defeat in game one.

•The two teams last played each other at Fowler Park on May 6, 2018, a 5-4 San Diego win on a walk-off homer in the 11th inning.

•The game, in which 2021 MLB Draftee Shane McGuire (Oakland Athletics) delivered the deciding blow, marked former USD head coach Rich Hill's 1,000th college coaching win.

•USD is 5-4 overall at Fowler Park against the Zags since the venue opened in 2013.

FOR STARTERS (PROBABLE)
FRIDAY: Sophomore left-hander Brycen Mautz is set to make his first career start in game one of a series when he takes the mound on Friday evening against Gonzaga.

•Mautz last appeared on May 7 at Pacific, surrendering three runs on five hits in 4.2 innings of work alongside a pair of walks and eight strikeouts.

•The San Diego, California native leads the Toreros with 12 games started in 2022 and has posted a team-best 8-1 record and 3.82 ERA so far this year in a team-high 73.0 innings pitched against just 19 walks and ranks second in the WCC with 106 strikeouts, which ranks 12th nationally.

•His 5.58 strikeout to walk ratio leads the conference and ranks 42nd nationally and his average of 13.07 strikeouts per nine innings ranks third in the WCC and is 17th nationally.

• The 6-foot-3 lefty is one of four WCC pitchers to turn in a complete game, has tossed at least five innings in 11 of his 12 starts so far this season (the lone exception being the 4.2-inning effort in San Diego's 9-6 win over Pacific), and has surrendered three earned runs or less in nine of those 12 outings.

• Mautz, who attended nearby Westview High School, went 3-1 with a 4.67 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched last year, including five perfect frames and nine Ks against UC Riverside in mid March.

•He was named the WCC Pitcher of the Week on April 18 and was selected as a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week on March 7.

SATURDAY (GAME ONE): Redshirt sophomore righty Ryan Kysar will make his eighth start of 2022 when he takes the mound to begin game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

•Kysar, who redshirted for his freshman year at Arizona before transferring to USD, most recently pitched on May 6 at Pacific, turning in a career outing against the Tigers.

•The Valencia, California native set a new career high in innings pitched and matched his career high in strikeouts for the second consecutive week at Klein Family field, tossing 7.0 innings while surrendering four runs on six hits against two walks and seven strikeouts in what marked the most dominant performance of his young college career thus far.

•Kysar has thrown five innings or more in each of his last four starts and has surrendered just 12 runs in his last 26 innings pitched.

•For the season Kysar is 4-0 with a 4.70 ERA and has 43 strikeouts to his credit against 17 walks.

SATURDAY (GAME TWO): San Diego's starter for game two of Saturday's doubleheader is TBA.

LAST TIME OUT
•The Toreros enjoyed a BYE week last weekend after sweeping Pacific in Stockton from May 6-8 and beating California Baptist by a 9-2 margin at Fowler Park last Tuesday night.

•Jack Costello led the way for the Toreros at the plate versus the Lancers with a game-best 4-for-5 performance that saw him score a run, drive in a career-high four, and hammer his seventh home run of 2022.
•Caleb Ricketts joined Chase Meidroth in putting together a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a game-high three runs scored, an RBI, two walks, and a double.
•Meidroth recorded his team-leading 21st multi-hit game of 2022 on May 10 with a 2-for-4 performance, coming across to score two runs alongside two doubles and a walk.
•Peraza was the only other Torero to score multiple runs against California Baptist, doing so as part of a 1-for-3 night that saw him score twice, drive in a run, and walk once.
•Cody Jefferis drove in two runs alongside a single and two walks, Will Worthington had a hit and a walk off the bench after entering in the sixth as a pinch hitter, and Dustin Allen went 2-for-4 with a walk.
•Drake Frize, Jack Dolak, James Sashin, Cole Colleran, and Ryan Robinson all threw scoreless innings against CBU before Sashin earned the win to move to 2-0 in 2022.

BIG BATS
•Seven USD players enter Friday night's action batting .300 or better, and the Toreros lead the West Coast Conference with a .291 (478-for-1642) team batting average, a .385 on-base percentage, and a .437 slugging percentage.

• The Toreros also lead the conference in runs scored (317), hits (478), and RBIs (254) and have struck out the least (286 times) in the WCC while ranking fourth in total walks (197).

•Junior catcher Caleb Ricketts (.356, 59-for-171) leads the WCC in hits (67) and ranks second with a .356 (67-for-188) batting average to go along his with 12 doubles, 11 home runs (second in the WCC), 39 RBIs, and 37 runs scored.

•Sophomore infielder Chase Meidroth is one hit off of Ricketts' conference-leading total with 66 of his own and his .342 (66-for-199) batting average is fourth alongside his 15 doubles (third in the WCC), 11 home runs (tied for second), 43 RBIs (third), and 42 runs scored (also third).

•Sophomore infielder Kevin Sim is tied for the league in home runs with 11.

Players hitting .300 or better include:
•Thomas Rollauer, .400 (2-for-5)
•Caleb Ricketts, .356, (67-for-188)
•Chase Meidroth, .342, (66-for-193)
•Kevin Sim, .314 (59-for-188)
•Camden Vasquez, .318 (27-for-185)
•RJ Teijeiro, .304 (28-for-92)
•Jack Costello, .321 (63-for-196)

GOLD GLOVES
•USD leads the conference and ranks 18th in the nation with a .979 fielding percentage through its 47 total games so far in 2022.

FOWLER MAGIC
• San Diego's five total walk-off wins (March 4 vs. Dallas Baptist, March 22 vs. UC Irvine, March 25 vs. Saint Mary's, and April 14 and 15 vs. Loyola Marymount) so far this season has already surpassed the team's remarkable walk-off total from 2021 (4).

• USD has twice walked-off in back-to-back contests (March 22 and March 25, April 14 and 15) and has done so via a bases-clearing double (Kevin Sim, March 4), an RBI fielder's choice (Justin DeCriscio, March 22), a two-run homer (RJ Teijeiro, March 25), and a pair of RBI singles (Dustin Allen and Angelo Peraza, April 14 and 15).

•Three of the five walk-off winners for San Diego in 2022 have come in extra innings (the team is 3-1 in extra-innings contests) and USD has rallied for a combined nine runs from the bottom of the ninth inning on in those games.

BEST IN THE WEST (COAST CONFERENCE)
• From the beginning of the 2019 season until now, no team in the West Coast Conference has had a better record than San Diego baseball. Combining their 2019 record (32-21), their abbreviated 2020 totals (12-4), their 33-12 mark in 2021, and their 31-16 record so far in 2022, the Toreros are a conference-best 108-53 (.670) in that 161-game span.

•Next best within that timeframe are Gonzaga (104-64, .619), BYU (97-71, .577) and Saint Mary's (96-86, .527).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

JUNIOR CATCHER/OUTFIELDER CALEB RICKETTS
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 6-FOR-14 (.428), 4 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR, BB
LAST TUESDAY VERSUS CBU: 2-FOR-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
2022: .356 (67-for-188), 37 R, 12 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 39 RBI

• Leads the WCC in hits (67), ranks second in the conference with a .356 (67-for-188) batting average, is one home run off WCC and team lead with 10 after going yard in back-to-back contests at Pacific.

•Leads USD with .601 slugging percentage that ranks second in WCC, .396 on-base percentage is second on USD roster.

• His 11-game hit streak earlier this season is the longest by any San Diego player in 2022 and his 20 multi-hit games are second on the USD roster.

• Was named to the 2022 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List on March 10, has thrown out 14 of 27 would-be base stealers so far this season, which ranks third in the WCC.

•Has played 30 games at catcher, 11 in left field, one in right field, and four as DH so far in 2022, was named WCC Player of the Week on March 28.

SOPHOMORE INFIELDER CHASE MEIDROTH
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 5-FOR-16 (.312), 3 R, 6 RBI, 2 HR, 2B, BB, 2 SB
LAST TUESDAY VS. CBU: 2-FOR-4, 2 R, 2 2B, BB
2022: .342 (66-FOR-193), 42 R, 15 2B, 10 HR, 43 RBIs, 30 BB

•Ranks second in the WCC with 66 hits, ranks second on USD roster and fourth in conference with a .339 (64-for-189) batting average.

•Leads Toreros with 15 doubles and 30 walks

• Has reached base in 42 of his 46 games so far this year, is tied with sophomore utility player Jack Costello for the Toreros' second-longest hit streak so far this season (10 games), leads the team in multi-hit games (21) and multi-RBI games (13), owns USD's second-longest on-base streak of the season at 26.

•His .575 slugging percentage ranks second and his .436 on-base percentage is first among qualified batters on San Diego roster, marks that are fourth and fifth in the WCC, respectively.

•Joined Ricketts in homering in back-to-back games at Pacific May 6 and 7, ripping a solo shot in the sixth inning of Friday's series opener before he launched a go-ahead three-run shot on Saturday to put San Diego ahead for good.

•Also drove in a pair in the top of the ninth in the series finale at Klein Family Field on May 8with a two-RBI double.

• Went 3-for-5 with four runs scored, seven runs batted in, a walk, a solo home run, and a grand slam in San Diego's nationally televised (ESPNU) 17-4 win over Santa Clara on April 30 as he set new career-highs in runs scored and RBIs.

•Has played 39 games at second base and seven at third so far this year, has earned WCC Player of the Week honors twice (3/21 and 5/2)

SOPHOMORE INFIELDER KEVIN SIM
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 4-FOR-15 (.266), 4 R, RBI, 2 2B, BB
2022: .314 (59-for-188), 43 R, 12 2B, 3B, 11 HR, 44 RBI

•Is tied for WCC lead with 11 home runs, ranks second in WCC with 44 RBIs entering Friday night's action.

• Ranks third on USD roster and sixth in WCC with .564 slugging percentage and his .415 on-base percentage ranks third among qualified San Diego batters

• Has put together 17 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games so far in 2022

• Has a seven-game hit streak under his belt, at one point reached base in 22 straight games in 2022

• Homered in four consecutive games from February 26 - March 5, including two home runs on March 4 versus Dallas Baptist.

•Went a remarkable 5-for-5 with a single, two home runs, two runs scored, and a walk-off, bases-clearing, three-RBI double in the bottom of the ninth against Dallas Baptist on March 4.

•Has started 39 games at first base and eight as the designated hitter in 2022, was named WCC Player of the Week on March 14.

SOPHOMORE UTILITY PLAYER JACK COSTELLO
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 4-FOR-13 (.307), 4 R, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B, BB
LAST TUESDAY VS. CBU: 4-FOR-5, 4 RBIS, HR, R
2022: .309 (59-for-191), 32 R, 12 2B, 3B, 6 HR, 33 RBI

•Set forth a game-best 4-for-5 performance on May 10 vs. CBU that saw him score a run, drive in a career-high four, and hammer his seventh home run of 2022.

•Ripped a three-RBI triple in San Diego's series finale at Pacific on May 8

• Has hit safely in all but nine of the Toreros' 47 games so far in 2022

• Has hit safely in 70 of the 90 games he has played in so far at USD

• Has reached base in 44 of the Toreros' 47 games in 2022

• Since going hitless in his first two college appearances on February 21 and 27, 2021, he's been hitless just 18 times, and 35 of his 88 college games so far have resulted in a multi-hit performance, including 18 multi-hit games out of 47 total contests so far in 2022, a mark that's three games off the team lead (Chase Meidroth, 21).

• His 10-game hit streak earlier this season is the second-longest by any USD player in 2022 (Caleb Ricketts, 11 games)

• His .505 slugging percentage ranks fourth on the USD roster and his .382 on-base percentage is fifth.

• Was named a Freshman All-American (2021), an All-WCC Freshman Team  member, an All-WCC Honorable Mention (2021), and a 2022 All-WCC Preseason Team selection.

•Has played 19 games in left field, 20 at third base, five in right field, and three at first base so far in 2022.

JUNIOR SHORTSTOP CODY JEFFERIS
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 4-FOR-13 (.307), 3 R, 4 RBI, 3B
LAST TUESDAY VS. CBU: 1-FOR-3, 2 RBIS, 2B, 2 BB
2022: .223 (39-FOR-175), 29 R, 9 2B, 3B, 28 RBI

•Recorded a pair of multi-hit games at Pacific on May 6 and 7 with two hits on both Friday and Saturday.

•Drove in a run in all three games at Klein Family Field from May 6-8.

•Has started 46 of San Diego's 49 games so far this season at shortstop and has played in 160 of USD's last 161 games over the last four seasons, including 153 total starts.

•Was selected to 2021 All-WCC Second Team and was one of two Toreros named to 2022 All-WCC Preseason Team.

GRADUATE UTILITY PLAYER RJ TEIJEIRO
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 3-FOR-10 (.300), 5 RBI, 2 R, BB
2022: .304 (28-FOR-92), 11 R, 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 19 RBI

•Drove in three runs on May 7 against the Tigers and had an RBI in all three games in Stockton.

•Joined the Toreros as a transfer after graduating from UCLA in three years, made his season debut in late March after missing 53 games across last season and the beginning of 2022 due to injury.

•Pushed San Diego to an extra-innings win over Saint Mary's on March 25 with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th, a two-run shot that marked his first college longball.

SOPHOMORE CENTER FIELDER DUSTIN ALLEN
LAST WEEKEND AT PACIFIC: 3-FOR-9 (.333), 2 R, RBI, 2B, 4 BB
LAST TUESDAY VS. CBU: 2-FOR-4, BB
2022: .277 (43-FOR-155), 32 R, 7 2B, 2 3B, HR, 29 RBI

• Is only San Diego player to start all 47 games so far at the same position (center field)

• Has batted ninth in each of San Diego's 47 games so far in 2022

• Owns USD's fourth-longest hit streak so far this season (nine games) and enters Friday night's action on a six-game hit streak.

•Has 11 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games so far in 2022

•Drew a career-high three walks in San Diego's series finale at Pacific on May 8, has reached base in each of his last nine games.

•Pushed San Diego to a walk-off win on April 14 against LMU with an RBI single to right field in the bottom of the 14th inning.

PERAZA STAYS PATIENT
•Sophomore utility player Angelo Peraza (St. Augustine High School) put together a productive series over at Pacific from May 6-8 despite notching just one total hit on the weekend.

•The Chula Vista, California native reached base six times and scored a pair of runs, largely due to his five walks and three stolen bases on the weekend, three each of which came on Saturday as he set new career highs in both categories.

•He stayed hot in USD's following game on May 10 vs. California Baptist, going 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, an RBI, and another walk.

•Peraza, who has played 23 games in right field and one at catcher so far in 2022, made his return to the San Diego lineup on April 12 versus San Diego State after missing 20 games from March 8 to April 9.

•He scored the winning run in San Diego's 9-8 walk-off victory over Dallas Baptist on March 4, and notched a walk-off, game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth in USD's 1-0 win over LMU on April 15.

JUNG-GOLDBERG CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY WEEKEND IN STYLE
•Junior utility player Max Jung-Goldberg had more than just a birthday to celebrate from May 6-8 in Stockton, going 4-for-12 (.333) with three RBIs, three runs scored, a double, a home run, and a walk across all three games against the Tigers.

•The Palo Alto, California native ripped a game-tying solo home on his birthday (May 8) that marked his first college longball, and had at least one hit in all three games in Stockton.

ROBINSON KEEPS ON ROLLING OUT OF BULLPEN
•A bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to be no problem for redshirt junior Ryan Robinson on May 6m at Pacific, as the 6-3 left-hander stranded all three runners with three straight strikeouts to conclude the frame.

•He stayed hot with 1.2 perfect frames in his following outing on May 10 against CBU, striking out four after he entered in the top of the eighth with a runner on third and one out.

•He's allowed just two runs in his last 16.2 innings pitched and has racked up 23 strikeouts against just two walks in that span, which dates back to March 29 at California Baptist.

•For the season he's 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in 29.1 total innings pitched with 38 strikeouts to his credit against just eight walks in 2022.

ROMERO SHINES IN STOCKTON
•Sophomore righty Ivran Romero (Poway High School) set forth a career outing in San Diego's series finale in Stockton on May 8, tossing a career-high 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen against the Tigers to earn his third win of 2022, allowing just three hits, walking none, and striking out seven, which is tied for his career high.

•For the season Romero is 3-2 with a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 total innings pitched and has 34 strikeouts to his credit against just seven walks.

CHURCHILL CONTINUES TO EXCEL OUT OF 'PEN
•Graduate left-handed pitcher Ian Churchill continued his success out of the bullpen on May 7 at Pacific, turning in 4.1 innings of three-run ball on Saturday afternoon to earn his third win of the season as he allowed just two hits, walked one, and struck out six, which was one batter off his career high.

• Churchill, who joined San Diego this season as a transfer from the University of Arizona, has allowed just eight earned runs in his last 34.2 innings pitched (two starts and 10 relief appearances) and has racked up 41 strikeouts across that timeframe.

• He threw six no-hit, shutout innings on April 14 in USD's extra-innings win over Loyola Marymount, striking out three against just two walks after he entered in the top of the eighth.

•For the season he's 3-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 45.0 total innings and has 48 strikeouts to his credit in 2022 against just nine walks.