San Diego (8-10-1, 0-0 WCC)  •  Santa Clara (11-5, 2-1 WCC)

Stephen Schott Stadium (1,500) • Santa Clara, California

Live Stream • WCC Network  |  Live Statistics  • SantaClaraBroncos.com

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After securing a series win in its first West Coast Conference matchup of the season last weekend, San Diego baseball (8-10-1, 2-1, WCC) is set to resume WCC play this weekend in the Bay Area, traveling to Santa Clara for three games against the Broncos (11-5, 2-1 WCC) at Schott Stadium.

The series will get underway on Friday with a 6:00 p.m. start, followed by a 1:00 p.m. matchup on Saturday and a 12:00 series finale on Sunday. All three games will be streamed live on the WCC Network, and live statistics will be available on SantaClaraBroncos.com.

LAST TIME OUT
• USD scored multiple runs in four different innings on Monday (March 20) but could not overtake California Baptist, dropping a tough 17-9 decision to the Lancers at Totman Stadium as it played its fourth game in four days.

• The matchup in Riverside was announced just hours before first pitch as the Toreros looked to secure a replacement for their Tuesday night matchup with San Diego State, which was postponed due to inclement weather.

• Prior to Monday, San Diego took two of three from Pacific at Fowler Park to open up conference play, beating the Tigers 9-3 on March 17 and 16-9 on March 18 before dropping a tough 5-2 decision in March 19th's series finale.

ALL-TIME SERIES VERSUS SANTA CLARA
• The Toreros are 72-63 against the Broncos all-time, with the two teams' most recent meeting coming last April, when USD took two of three from SCU at Fowler Park.

• San Diego locked up that series win in 2022 by beating Santa Clara 8-3 on Friday (April 29) and 17-4 on Saturday (April 30) in a nationally televised (ESPNU) matchup‚ before falling by a tight 3-2 margin in the finale on Sunday (May 1).

FOR STARTERS (PROBABLE)
Friday: Redshirt junior righty James Sashin is set to make his sixth start of the season and the seventh of his career when he takes the mound against the Broncos in Friday night's series opener.

• Sashin, a Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts native who spent time with both USD's football and club baseball programs before joining USD's Division I baseball team as a walk-on, has posted a team-best 2.13 ERA through 25.1 total frames so far in 2023, striking out 27 batters while working around 12 walks. His innings pitched total is just one third of an inning shy of Garrett Rennie's team-high mark of 25.2.

• His most recent appearance came against Pacific last Friday (March 17) and saw him turn in his third consecutive quality start, tossing six innings of one-run ball while scattering six hits, tying his career-high with eight strikeouts, and walking none for the second straight outing to earn his second win of 2023 and move to 2-0.

• Sashin has also seen success on the road. He pitched twice on the Toreros' eight-game away swing earlier this season and set forth career-best efforts in both outings, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks at Oregon (March 3) across a then-career-high 5.2 innings while striking out a career-high eight before turning in his best start thus far as a Torero a week later at No. 10 TCU (March 10), holding the Horned Frogs to a single run while scattering six hits across a career-high six innings and walking none for the first time in 2023.

• After walking a combined 10 batters across his first two starts this season, he has walked just two since, and has not issued a free pass in his last 12 innings pitched.

• Sashin's first two outings in 2023 (7.2 IP): 10 walks, 5 strikeouts
• Sashin's last three outings in 2023 (17.2 IP): 2 walks, 22 strikeouts

Saturday: Graduate right-hander Garrett Rennie will begin Saturday's game on the mound for the Toreros in what marks his sixth start of 2023 and the 17th of his career.

• He most recently appeared on March 18 opposite Pacific at Fowler Park, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits across 3.1 innings, walking one while striking out a single batter.

• Rennie turned in a solid start in his most recent road appearance on March 11 at No. 10 TCU, holding the Horned Frogs to just two earned runs on three hits across six innings at Lupton Stadium, walking just one while striking out five.

• Rennie set a new career high in strikeouts on February 26 at Fowler Park, fanning nine Hustlin' Rebels across six innings of work while holding UNLV to three runs (zero earned) on a walk and five hits.
• Three of his five outings in 2023 have spanned exactly six innings, and his 25.2 total innings pitched so far this season are the most on the USD roster, edging Friday night starter James Sashin by one third of an inning.

• He appeared in 15 of San Diego's games last season (11 starts), going 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and 25 walks in 67.1 total innings pitched, which was the second-most on the USD roster.

• Rennie started each of the Toreros' first eight Friday night games in 2022 and threw five or more innings on seven occasions.

• He joined USD in 2020 from Long Beach City College, where he earned 2018 First Team All-South Coast Conference honors and was named both the 2019 LBCC Pitcher of the Year and the 2019 South Coast Conference Pitcher/Athlete of the Year.

Sunday: Redshirt sophomore righty Ryan Kysar is set to take the mound for the Toreros on Sunday, marking the third consecutive weekend he has started San Diego's series finale.

• Kysar breezed through two scoreless innings in his 2023 debut on March 12 at No. 10 TCU before allowing a pair of runs across 3.1 frames last Sunday at Fowler Park against Pacific.

• Through 5.1 total frames so far in 2023 he has allowed two runs on nine hits (3.38 ERA), striking out six while walking just one.

• The Valencia, California native earned All-WCC Freshman Team Honors in 2022 after posting a 4-1 record and a 5.24 ERA across 56.2 innings, which marked the third-most innings pitched on the San Diego roster.

• He struck out 52 batters against 25 walks that year, and saw action both in the WCC Tournament against Portland (4.2 IP, 4 ER), and in the NCAA Corvallis Regional opposite No. 4 Oregon State (2 IP, 4 ER).

• Kysar joined the Toreros from the University of Arizona, where he redshirted in 2021.

AN ABSURD EIGHTH INNING
• San Diego put together its most remarkable inning in recent memory last Friday, plating 10 runs on just one hit in the bottom of the eighth against Pacific without hitting a ball out of the infield.

• Trailing the Tigers 8-6 entering the frame, USD proceeded to pull ahead by a 16-8 margin after the following unfolded at Fowler Park:

• James Arakawa is hit by a pitch
• Jack Gurevitch walks
• Will Worthington lays a sacrifice bunt down up the third base line but the Tigers' throw to first sails high and wide, scoring Arakawa to make it 8-7 and advancing Gurevitch to third
• Andrew Semo drops down another bunt but Pacific again makes an error throwing to first base, scoring Gurevitch to tie the score at 8-8 and advancing Worthington to third
• Dustin Allen lays down a drag bunt and beats out the throw for the Toreros' lone hit of the inning, which plates Worthington to give San Diego its first lead of the evening at 9-8
• Kevin Sim draws a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk, bringing home Semo to make it 10-8
• Smith successfully executes yet another sacrifice bunt, scoring Allen from third to make it 11-8
• With runners on second and third, one out, and the Pacific infield drawn in on the grass, Angelo Peraza slaps a sharp ground ball to the Tigers' second baseman, who unsuccessfully tries to cut down Justin DeCriscio at home, making it 12-8.
• Immediately after DeCriscio scores from third, Peraza draws a throw from the Pacific catcher as he sprints to second base, which allows Sim to score and push the USD lead to 13-8 after beginning the play at second base himself.
• Back-to-back wild pitches plate Peraza and Arakawa, making it 15-8.
• Worthington works a full count then drives in Gurevitch with an RBI grounder to third, capping the big inning to make it 16-8 in favor of San Diego.

• Video of the wild inning went viral soon after the game, accumulating more than one million views on Twitter and thousands of likes across multiple prominent accounts on Instagram.

• Baseball pundit Jomboy, who boasts 1.71 million subscribers on Youtube, posted a breakdown of the inning on his channel and accumulated 250,000 more views.

• The inning marks San Diego baseball's second "viral" moment of the 2023 season after behind-the-scenes shots of its Top Gun-themed preseason video shoot at Naval Air Station North Island garnered 42,000-plus likes on Instagram in collaboration with NCAABaseball —marking the account's most-liked post of the offseason and more likes than anything that was posted on the account during the 2022 College World Series.

SCHEDULE UPDATE
• San Diego's Tuesday night matchup against San Diego State at Fowler Park this week was rescheduled to Wednesday, April 19 at 6:00 p.m. due to inclement weather.

• It marked USD's second postponement of 2023 after its midweek contest at UCLA on March 14 was moved for the same reason. No new date for the Toreros' clash with the Bruins has been announced.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sophomore Shortstop Justin DeCriscio:
• Leads qualified USD players with a .333 (23-for-69 batting average through all 19 of the Toreros' games thus far in 2023; has a hit in all but three of them.

• Enters Friday night's action on a five-game hit streak, has recorded other hit streaks of six (February 19 - March 2) and three games (March 4 - March 10) so far this season.

• Career-high three hits twice this year (February 24 vs. Hawaii and March 10 at No. 10 TCU); has four multi-hit games so far in 2023.

• Notched his third multi-hit game of the year on March 7 with a 2-for-3 evening at No. 25 Oregon State that saw him come around to score a run.

• Was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs, and a triple in USD's 14-2 win at No. 10 TCU on March 10.

• Ripped a two-strike, two out, two-RBI single in the top of the ninth inning on March 12 at No. 10 TCU, cutting USD's deficit to just one run.

• Batted .400 (4-for-10) against the Horned Frogs from March 10-12 at Lupton Stadium with two runs scored, a triple, and four RBIs.

• Hit his first college home run last Sunday against Pacific; batted .333 (4-for-12) against the Tigers at Fowler Park with four runs scored and an RBI.

• Won a Rawlings Gold Glove Award as a senior at Orange Lutheran High School (California) in 2021.

• Will celebrate his 20th birthday on Friday (March 24).

Junior Infielder Kevin Sim:
• Enters Friday night's action on a season-long seven-game hit streak that dates back to March 10 at No. 10 TCU after going hitless in four straight games from March 3-7.

• Batted a robust .615 (8-for-13) in three games opposite Pacific last weekend while batting out of the leadoff spot for the first time in 2023, recording a pair of home runs that came in back-to-back games, a double, six runs scored, five RBIs, three walks, and a stolen base.

• Had hits in all three games in Fort Worth against the Horned Frogs (March 10-12), scoring five runs while driving in three with a pair of doubles and an opposite-field home run.

• Homered in three consecutive games at Fowler Park to begin the 2023 season (February 17-19 versus Nebraska).

• Leads USD with 25 runs scored/20 RBIs and is tied for second with four doubles and 12 walks.

• Two-time WCC Player of the Week (February 20, 2023 and March 14, 2022)

• One of two Toreros named to 2023 All-WCC Preseason Team (Jack Costello)

• Selected to 2022 All-WCC First Team and was also named WCC Player of the Week on March 14, 2022.

• Attended Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, California.

• Father, Chong Soo Shim played 15 years in the KBO League (OB Bears, Hyundai Unicorns and Samsung Lions).

Graduate Infielder James Arakawa:
• Tied his season high with three hits on Monday afternoon at California Baptist.

• Transferred to USD last fall from West Coast Conference foe Pacific, at which he spent four seasons (2019-2022) and earned All-WCC Honorable Mention recognition in 2021.

• Drove in four runs and scored two more against his former team last weekend at Fowler Park while also drawing two walks, stealing two bases, and notching an outfield assist in left.

• Batted a team-high .500 (5-for-10) at No. 10 TCU from March 10-12 with two runs scored, three doubles, two RBIs, eight total bases, and a walk; recorded his third and fourth multi-hit games of 2023 with two hits on March 10 and three on March 12.

• Hit safely in each of the Toreros' first eight games in 2023 and in six of his last eight starts.

• Is batting .323 (21-for-65) so far this season, which ranks second to only DeCriscio (.333).

• Has compiled eight runs scored, five doubles, a triple, 10 RBIs, five walks, and a team-high seven hit by pitches in 2023.

Junior Utility Player Angelo Peraza:
• Is batting .313 (21-for-67) with 19 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs, 15 RBIs, a team-high 14 walks, and five hit by pitches in 2023.

• Batting average, RBIs, and home runs rank third on USD roster, hit by pitches rank second.

• Has three stolen bases in four attempts so far this season.

• Has notched a hit in all but five of the Toreros' 19 games so far this year, has put together two three-game hit streaks.

• Enters Friday night's action after recording two hits in each of his last two games.

• Delivered a walk-off RBI single on February 19 versus Nebraska.

• Had a season-high three hits and four runs scored on February 24 versus Hawaii at Fowler Park.

• Went 1-for-2 on March 7 at No. 25 Oregon State with two RBIs — both were sacrifice flies that drove in junior center fielder Dustin Allen from third.

• Put together a 2-for-4 performance in each of the Toreros' first two games at No. 10 TCU (March 11 and 12), the first of which saw him score three times and drive in two with a pair of RBI doubles.

Junior Third Baseman/Outfielder Jack Costello:
• Is tied for the USD lead with six home runs in 2023 and his 19 RBI and 12 walks rank second among his teammates

• Hit five home runs across three games at Fowler Park from February 20th - February 26, including two homers in back-to-back contests against both Nebraska (February 20) and Hawaii (February 24) and one more on February 26 opposite UNLV.

Costello's homers so far this season have included:        

• A go-ahead grand slam (February 20 vs. Nebraska)
• A game-tying three-run shot (February 20 vs. Nebraska)
• A go-ahead two-run shot (February 26 vs. UNLV)
• A go-ahead solo shot (March 2 at Oregon)

• Also notched a walk-off single against UNLV on February 26.

• Was named both the NCAA National and the West Coast Conference Player of the Week on February 27, earned his second consecutive All-WCC Preseason Team selection last month.

• Earned WCC All-Tournament Team honors and was an WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2022 after powering San Diego to the WCC Tournament Championship with a go-ahead two-RBI single and a go-ahead solo home run in San Diego's 15-12 extra-innings win over Gonzaga at Banner Island Ballpark.

• Was named a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, an All-WCC Freshman Team selection, and an All-WCC Honorable Mention after his college debut in 2021.

Freshman Infielder/Designated Hitter Jack Gurevitch:
• Was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored on Monday at California Baptist, marking the second multi-hit performance of his young career.

• Walked a team-high seven times last weekend against Pacific, including four (and three runs scored) on Saturday (March 18).

• His 13 total walks in 2023 are second on the USD roster to only Angelo Peraza.

• Hit the first college pitch he saw for a pinch-hit, eighth-inning, two-RBI double on Opening Night versus Nebraska (February 17).

• Put together a five-game hit streak from February 27 to March 7 that included contests against UC Irvine, Oregon, and No. 25 Oregon State.

• Recorded his first multi-hit game and his second double of the season on March 7 against the Beavers at Goss Stadium with a 2-for-4 performance.

• Entered as a pinch-hitter on March 10 at No. 10 TCU and worked a full count before drawing a walk to load the bases, which set the stage for Justin DeCriscio's two-RBI single.

• Attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he batted .357 as a senior with 41 hits and led the Knights to a 25-9-1 record and a CIF Championship game appearance in his senior year.

• Celebrated his 19th birthday on March 9.

Freshman Utility Player Ben Haar:
• Notched his first two college hits and RBIs and scored a run in his first career college start on Monday at California Baptist.

• Hails from La Mesa, California and attended nearby Helix High School.

Sophomore Outfielder/Left-Handed Pitcher Austin Smith:
• After beginning his USD career 4-for-4 on Opening Night at Fowler Park (February 17), Smith is batting .275 (19-for-69) through all 19 of the Toreros' games so far in 2023 with 11 runs scored, four doubles, 11 RBIs, nine walks, and four by pitches.

• Has posted a team-low 1.59 ERA on the mound through 5.2 total innings pitched (four appearances, one start), allowing just one run on five hits in that span while striking out six, walking none, and earning a save.

• Smith transferred to the Toreros after spending his freshman season at nearby UC San Diego, where he batted .261 (46-for-176) with four home runs and ranked third on the team with a 3.18 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. He attended local Granite Hills High School, located just under 30 minutes away from the University of San Diego.

Redshirt Junior Right-Handed Pitcher Ryan Robinson:
• Is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA, 20 strikeouts, and just four walks through 14 total innings pitched in 2023 out of the Torero bullpen.

• Appeared in back-to-back games last weekend against Pacific and tossed three scoreless innings with three strikeouts while allowing just one hit and one walk.

• Stranded two runners in the top of the eighth on Sunday (March 19) with a 6-4-3 double-play ball and a strikeout.

• Began the 2023 season with 6.2 consecutive scoreless frames against Nebraska and UNLV.

• Entered with runners at the corners at No. 10 TCU on March 11 and stranded them both with a pair of strikeouts and a 5-2 fielder's choice to preserve a one-run USD deficit.

• Has earned an All-WCC Honorable Mention selection in back-to-back seasons (2021 and 2022), was 3-0 with a  2.70 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 36.2 IP (26 app.) as a redshirt sophomore in 2021.

• Transferred to USD from Ohlone College (California) in 2020

• Holds the single-season strikeout record at Livermore High School, previously set by Randy Johnson.

• Had Tommy John surgery, missing his junior high school season (2017).

• Received a kidney transplant when he was 10 years old.

BUILDING BLOCKS 
• San Diego has held a lead in 15 of its first 19 games so far this season (March 4 and 5 at Oregon, March 11 at No. 10 TCU, and March 20 at California Baptist).

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, their 37-20 record in 2022, and their 8-10-1 totals so far in 2023, the Toreros are a conference-best 123-68-1 (.643) in that 192-game span.

• Next best within that timeframe are Gonzaga (115-84, .577), BYU (106-85, .554) and Portland (89-80, .526).