SAN DIEGO — A six-run eighth inning featuring a pair of three-run homers from Angelo Peraza and Jack Costello powered San Diego baseball (6-5, 0-0 WCC) to a commanding 9-2 win over San Diego State (4-8, 0-0 Mountain West) on Tuesday night, earning the Toreros a second consecutive victory as they dominated their crosstown rival.

A strong start on the mound from Ryan Kysar set the stage for USD's late-game surge before Ivran Romero, Conner Thurman, Drake Frize, and Vaughn Mauterer combined to strike out eight across five shutout frames out of the bullpen to end the game.

Along with his decisive blow in the eighth inning, Peraza paced the Torero offense by going 3-for-4 from the plate while ripping an RBI double, scoring three runs, and drawing a walk.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Toreros wasted little time in Tuesday evening's crosstown matchup, getting the top of the first inning started with an RBI sacrifice fly from Costello to plate Peraza — who reached on a walk — and give USD an early 1-0 lead. 
• The Aztecs responded in the bottom of the second with a game-tying solo homer to right-center field to knot the game up at one run apiece.
• SDSU then took a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth by way of an RBI double to right center, making it 2-1 Aztecs after four innings of play.
• Early in the seventh inning, Peraza turned on the fourth pitch he saw and ripped a double deep into right-center field to score Ariel Armas all the way from first base, tying Tuesday night's contest up once again at 2-2.
• Gurevitch then regained the lead for San Diego by notching an RBI ground-out which plated Peraza to make it 3-2 in favor of USD.
• Peraza stepped to the plate in the top of the eighth and hammered the first pitch he saw over Tony Gwynn Stadium's left field wall for a three-run homer, putting his team in control with a commanding 6-2 advantage. 
• Costello continued the eighth inning rally for the Toreros when he crushed a three-run shot of his own, giving San Diego a 9-2 lead that it did not relinquish.   

ON THE MOUND 

• Kysar started on the mound for the Toreros and shined in his second start of 2024, firing five strong innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out four.
• Romero entered out of the bullpen in relief of Kysar and turned in one scoreless inning with two strikeouts and two walks.
• Thurman entered in relief of Romero with runners on the corners and nobody out in the bottom of the seventh and got out of the jam by striking out the side, keeping San Diego in front and the Aztecs off the board in thrilling fashion. 
• Frize and Mauterer then teamed up to pitch two scoreless frames to seal the win, combining to surrender just two hits while striking out three and walking one. 

TORERO TIDBITS

• Peraza's stellar performance at the plate was complemented by big nights from Costello and Gurevitch, who went 1-for-3 and 2-for-5 respectively, while combining for five RBIs.
• Peraza's four RBIs at San Diego State on Tuesday matches his RBI total through the first 10 games of the 2024 season.
• Dustin Allen drew three walks and scored a run in San Diego's win over the Aztecs.
• Neither team led by more than a run through Tuesday's first seven innings, and the game ultimately featured two ties and two lead changes.  
• Head coach Brock Ungricht has now won three of his first four matchups against his alma mater (San Diego State) since taking the helm for San Diego in 2022.

UP NEXT
The Toreros are back in action this weekend, when they travel to Texas to continue non-conference play with a three-game series against Dallas Baptist. First pitch at Horner Ballpark on Friday evening is set for 4:30 p.m. PST.