DALLAS — San Diego baseball (7-6, 0-0 WCC) on Saturday afternoon utilized a remarkable six-run ninth inning to earn a stirring comeback win over No. 17 Dallas Baptist, taking down the Patriots by an 8-4 margin at Horner Ballpark in what marked the Toreros' second victory over a ranked opponent in 2024.

USD entered the top of the ninth trailing 4-2 but was able to get back in the game with a trio of hit-by-pitches and three RBI singles.

A strong start on the mound from Calvin Schapira set the stage for USD's late-game surge before Conner Thurman, Ivran Romero, and Drake Frize combined to strike out four across 4.1 shutout frames out of the bullpen to end the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• San Diego got the scoring started early in the top of the second, when Dustin Allen roped an RBI double down the right field line to plate Jakob Christian — who reached on a lead-off double —  and give the Toreros an early 1-0 lead. 
• DBU responded in the bottom of the frame with three RBI singles and an RBI ground-out to take a three run advantage at 4-1. 
• Christian continued his strong afternoon in his next at-bat, when he hammered an RBI double to send Austin Smith home and get his team back within two in the top of the third. 
• The score remained the same all the way until the ninth inning, when Angelo Peraza reached on an error after a nine-pitch at-bat, Ryan Ward worked a walk, and Jack Costello was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out.
• Smith then stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI single to right field, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
• With an 0-2 count and the bases still loaded, Christian was hit by a pitch, pushing Ward home to tie the score a 4-4.
• Armas saw a ball and a strike in the subsequent at-bat before being hit by a pitch himself, sending the go-ahead run home from third to give San Diego its first lead since the top of the second.
• With USD now in front by a 5-4 margin, Allen and Worthington continued the Toreros' ninth-inning rally, notching an RBI single apiece to add two more runs in the top of the ninth and give San Diego an 8-4 advantage it did not relinquish.

ON THE MOUND

• In his first start of the 2024 season, lefty Calvin Schapira turned in 4.2 frames, surrendering  four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out a team-high four.
• Conner Thurman entered out of the bullpen in relief of Shapira midway through the fifth inning  and completed 1.1 scoreless frames, striking out one and allowing just one hit.
• Romero followed Thurman and tossed two scoreless innings, giving up a hit and a walk and striking out one. 
• After San Diego's last-chance rally, righty Drake Frize entered out of the pen and secured his team a win by tossing a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth.

TORERO TIDBITS 

•  Allen turned in his finest performance in over two weeks on Saturday afternoon, going 2-for-5 from the plate with a double while driving in two.
• Christian put together his most productive game as a Torero thus far, going 2-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and two RBIs alongside a walk.
• Smith made his presence known from the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI.
• Peraza, Costello, Christian, and Armas all were hit by a pitch in Saturday's win. 

UP NEXT
The Toreros will look for a road series win over No.17 Dallas Baptist tomorrow afternoon as they conclude their three-game set with the Patriots. First pitch at Horner Ballpark in the Sunday afternoon finale is set for 11:00 a.m. PST.