San Diego Toreros (30-13, 14-4 WCC)  •  Santa Clara (21-20, 8-7 WCC)

Fowler Park (1,700) • San Diego, California

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SAN DIEGO — Coming off a dominant series win against conference rival Gonzaga, San Diego baseball (30-13, 14-4 WCC) is set to continue its homestand on Friday evening, taking on Santa Clara (17-20, 12-3 WCC) to close out its home West Coast Conference schedule with a three-game West Coast Conference series at Fowler Park.

First pitch in the series opener on Friday night against the Broncos is set for 6:05 p.m., followed by a 5:05 p.m. start in game two on Saturday evening, and a 1:05 p.m. finale on Sunday afternoon. Sunday will mark San Diego's Senior Day, with 13 graduating Toreros set to be recognized in an on-field pregame ceremony.

All three games will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Jack Cronin on the call. A free, live audio simulcast will be available alongside live statistics on USDToreros.com.

LAST TIME OUT - Toreros Fall to No. 9 UC Irvine
• San Diego scored four times across the final five innings of its Tuesday night matchup against UC Irvine but could not overcome an early offensive surge from the Anteaters, dropping a tough 8-4 decision in a midweek non-conference contest at Fowler Park.

• Justin DeCriscio, Dustin Allen, and Gabe D'Arcy all drove in runs in the defeat. Five San Diego relief pitchers teamed up to hold UCI scoreless across the game's final five frames.

Notable:
•Three of San Diego's four runs on Tuesday night came via sacrifice bunts or sacrifice flies.

• The Torero bullpen held the Anteater offense scoreless across the game's final five innings.

• Allen recorded a pair of impressive highlight-reel catches in center-field on Tuesday night and was also 1-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.

• DeCriscio was 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBIs.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST SANTA CLARA
• The Toreros are 73-65 against the Broncos all-time, with the two teams' most recent meeting coming last season from March 24-26, 2023, when San Diego dropped two of three on the road. USD fell in game one at Stephen Schott Stadium 10-6 that weekend, won a 10-6 decision in game two, and suffered a 9-7 defeat in an eleven-inning series finale.

• San Diego last hosted Santa Clara at Fowler Park on Apr 29, 30, and May 1 2022, when it took two of three against the Broncos. USD won the first two games of the series by 8-3 and 17-4 decisions that weekend, but fell in the series finale against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon by a tight 3-2 decision. The middle game of the series that year was televised nationally on ESPNU.

JUSTIN DECRISCIO NAMED WCC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
•  Junior shortstop Justin Decriscio has been named the WCC Co-Player of the Week for April 29, 2024, the West Coast Conference announced on Monday afternoon.

•DeCriscio dominated during San Diego baseball's big week, batting an absurd .750 (9-for-12) with eight RBIs, seven runs scored, a double, two home runs, a walk, and a stolen base while slugging 1.333 and getting on base at a .800 clip as the Toreros demolished crosstown rival San Diego State and swept first-place Gonzaga.

• He got his week started with a two-hit, four-RBI performance against the Aztecs that also saw him score a run, then stayed hot in the series opener against the Zags by going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a solo homer, an RBI, and a walk. DeCriscio had just one hit in the middle game against Gonzaga, but scored two runs and drove in one more. He finished strong in the series finale against the Bulldogs, going 3-for-4 with a run scored, a double, two RBIs, and a stolen base to seal San Diego's crucial sweep of Gonzaga.

TOP TORERO HITTERS LAST WEEK VS. GONZAGA AND UC IRVINE (APRIL 26-28, 30)
Justin DeCriscio | .643 AVG (9-for-14), 6 R, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, BB, HBP, .929 SLG, .647 OBP
Will Worthington | .385 AVG (5-for-13), 4 R, 2B, 3 RBI, BB, HBP, .463 SLG, .467 OBP
Ariel Armas | .385 AVG (5-for-13), 4 R, 3 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, .846 SLG, .529 OBP
Angelo Peraza | .353 AVG (6-for-17), 6 R, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, .647 SLG, .450 OBP
Jack Costello | .313 AVG (5-for-16), 4 R, 4 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, .750 SLG, .400 OBP
Austin Smith | .286 AVG (4-for-14), 4 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 2 HBP, .357 SLG, .500 OBP

TOP TORERO HITTERS IN WEST COAST CONFERENCE PLAY
Jakob Christian | .419 AVG (31-for-74), 22 R, 6 2B, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 6 BB, 4 HBP, .986 SLG, .482 OBP
Austin Smith | .364 AVG (24-for-66), 18 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 10 BB, 7 HBP, .515 SLG, 494 OBP
Ariel Armas | .359 AVG (23-for-64), 15 R, 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 12 BB, 2 HBP, .500 SLG, .474 OBP
Will Worthington | .356 AVG (21-for-59), 16 R, 4 2B, 9 RBI, 4 BB, 3 HBP, .424 SLG, .424 OBP
Jack Gurevitch | .338 AVG (24-for-71), 17 R, 3 2B, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 12 BB, 3 HBP, .549 SLG, .453 OBP
Justin DeCriscio | .301 AVG (22-for-73), 15 R, 3 2B, HR, 18 RBI, 3 BB, 3 HBP, .384 SLG, .350 OBP
Angelo Peraza | .291 AVG (23-for-79), 26 R, 9 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 8 BB, 6 HBP, .519 SLG, .398 OBP
Jack Costello | .278 AVG (22-for-79), 17 R, 8 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 4 BB, 3 HBP, .481 SLG, .333 OBP
Dustin Allen | .278 AVG (20-for-72), 11 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBI, 10 BB, 2 HBP, .375 SLG, .381 OBP

TOP TORERO HITTERS IN 2024
Jack Gurevitch | .363 AVG (61-for-168), 41 R, 10 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 28 BB, 7 HBP, .560 SLG, .473 OBP
Jakob Christian | .352 AVG (51-for-145), 42 R, 10 2B, 19 HR, 49 RBI, 16 BB, 6 HBP, .814 SLG, .435 OBP
Austin Smith | .325 AVG (49-for-151), 36 R, 9 2B, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 23 BB, 11 HBP, .523 SLG, .439 OBP
Justin DeCriscio | .304 AVG (45-for-148), 29 R, 9 2B, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 9 BB, 6 HBP, .405 SLG, .361 OBP
Jack Costello | .301 AVG (53-for-176), 35 R, 12 2B, 3B, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 15 BB, 8 HBP, .500 SLG, .376 OBP
Angelo Peraza | .299 AVG (52-for-174), 47 R, 14 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 23 BB, 9 HBP, .460 SLG, .404 OBP
Ariel Armas | .289 AVG (41-for-142), 28 R, 5 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 20 BB, 6 HBP, .408 SLG, .399 OBP
Dustin Allen | .287 AVG (48-for-167), 29 R, 9 2B, 4 3B, HR, 23 RBI, 27 BB, 3 HBP, .407 SLG, .390 OBP
Will Worthington | .287 AVG (39-for-136), 27 R, 6 2B, 26 RBI, 13 BB, 3 HBP, .331 SLG, .362 OBP

FOR STARTERS (PROBABLE)
FRIDAY: Right-hander Josh Randall (3-2, 3.73 ERA) is set to start game one for the Toreros against the Broncos at Fowler Park.

• He most recently pitched San Diego's series opener against Gonzaga last weekend,  and allowed four hits through five total innings on the hill. He finished his night surrendering just one earned run, with eight strikeouts and three walks.

• Across 50.2 innings and ten starts in 2024 he has struck out a team-high 63 batters, walked 20, and held opposing hitters to a .214 average.

• Randall, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound junior from San Juan Capistrano, California, transferred to USD from Arizona, where he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons.

• He made 14 relief appearances during his true freshman campaign in 2022, compiling a 1-0 record and 15 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .231 batting average.

• As a sophomore in 2023, he was limited to just one pitching appearance due to injury.

• Randall brings postseason experience to the Torero rotation, having thrown three innings for the Wildcats in the 2022 NCAA Coral Gables Regional against Ole Miss.

• On January 26, he was tabbed as the 2024 Perfect Game Preseason WCC Pitcher of the Year.

SATURDAY: Logan Reddemann, the two-time WCC Freshman of the Week, will make his tenth start of the season and twelfth overall pitching appearance of 2024 when he takes the mound for USD on Saturday evening.

• Reddemann (5-3, 4.39 ERA) most recently pitched last Saturday in game two of San Diego's series against Gonzaga, when he surrendered just two earned runs through six innings pitched, allowing five hits while striking out a pair and walking one.

• So far in 2024 he has struck out 43 and walked 13 across a team-high 53.1 innings pitched.

• A 6-foot-2, 185-pound righty from Palmdale, California, Reddemann attended Quartz Hill High School in Lancaster, California, where he batted .420 across his prep career and compiled a 1.62 ERA.

• He earned First Team All-CIF Southern Selection honors in 2022 and 2023 and threw a perfect game during his senior season that included 11 strikeouts while going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles.

• Reddemann is a switch-hitting two-way player who could also play middle infield for USD.

SUNDAY: After a pair of stellar performances in back-to-back series finales at Pepperdine and against Gonzaga, Austin Smith (3-0, 3.60 ERA) is set to remain in the rotation for Sunday's match-up against Santa, where he will make his sixth start, and fourteenth overall pitching appearance of 2024.

• He last pitched in the Toreros' series finale against Gonzaga on April 21, when he dominated through five shutout innings that saw him allow just one hit, walk two, and strike out seven.

•  Smith, who is tied with Conner Thurman for the USD lead with three total saves, has given up just twelve total runs across 35 total innings, and has struck out 36 total batters while walking 18.

• In addition to dominating on the mound, Smith has also batted in all 39 games so far for USD, primarily as a designated hitter, but has also seen time in left field.

• At the plate he has put together a .325/.439/.523 slash line with 31 RBIs and seven home runs, which is tied with Jack Gurevitch for the second-most on the Torero roster.

BIG BATS
Across 43 games in 2024, the Toreros lead the WCC in the following offensive categories...

• Batting average (.304)
• Hits (462)
• On Base Percentage (.398)
• Total Runs scored (332)
• Sacrifice bunts (37)
• Runs scored per game (7.7)

• USD ranks second in walks (190), doubles (89), doubles per game (2.07), home runs (53), home runs per game (1.23), and slugging percentage (0.478), and is third in the league in hit-by-pitches (60), and sacrifice flies (19).

A GREAT YEAR FOR GURV
• Jack Gurevitch, who was named the WCC Player of the Week on March 18, leads the WCC with 61 hits, and ranks second with a .363 batting average, 1.42 hits per game, and a .473 on-base percentage entering Friday night's action.

• Gurevitch's 12-game hit streak earlier this season is the longest by a Torero in 2024.

CHRISTIAN IS CRUSHING IT
• Jakob Christian, who was named the WCC Player of the Week on April 4, leads the WCC in home runs per game (.50).

• He ranks second within the league in total home runs (19), total RBIs (49), RBIs per game (1.29), slugging percentage (.814), and total bases (118)

• He also ranks Top 20 nationally in three of those categories: Home Runs (14th), Home Runs Per Game (6th), and Slugging Percentage (16th)

• He has totaled five multi-homer games this season, and has put together 17 different multi-hit performances.

• With his pair of homers on Tuesday against San Diego State, he now has 19 total home runs in 2024, which moves him into second place for San Diego's all-time single season home run record, behind Kris Bryant's 2013 total of 31.

SELFLESS SEV
• Will Worthington's 13 sacrifice bunts and .30 sacrifice bunts per game lead the WCC and rank second nationally.

• The national leader in both categories (Garrison Weiss, Prairie View) currently has 15 total sacrifice bunts, and holds a .34 mark in sacrifice bunts per game.

CLUTCH COSTELLO
• Jack Costello is tied for first amongst his teammates with 49 RBIs in 2024, which is the second-most among WCC players.

The senior utility player's career college accolades include:

• NCAA National Player of the Week (February 27, 2023)
• WCC Player of the Week (February 27, 2023)
• WCC All-Tournament Team (2022)
• All-WCC Preseason Team (2022)
• Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American (2021)
• All-WCC Freshman Team (2021)
• All-WCC Honorable Mention (2021)
•WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention (2022 and 2023)

POWERED BY PERAZA
• Angelo Peraza's 47 runs scored and 1.12 runs scored per game this season leads the WCC.

• He also leads the conference in total doubles with 14.

WATCH ME WHIP…NOW WATCH THIS STRIKEOUT
• Through 43 games this season the San Diego pitching staff leads the WCC with a 1.31 WHIP

USD is also pacing the conference in the following categories:

• Average ERA (4.41), 26th nationally
• Hits allowed per nine innings (7.98), 20th nationally
• Strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.81)
• Strikeouts per nine innings (10.6)
• Walks allowed per nine innings (3.78)

GOLD GLOVES
• The Toreros' .980 team fielding percentage in 2024 leads the WCC and ranks 7th nationally.

• The national leader in that category (Notre Dame) currently holds a .984 mark.

A STRONG NON-CONFERENCE RESUME
• San Diego is 16-9 in non-conference play so far this season, and has secured wins over #16 Texas, Arizona (twice), #17 Dallas Baptist, Michigan (three times), and USC (twice).

• As of Thursday afternoon, the Toreros are at #33 in overall NCAA RPI and #17 in non-conference RPI

• USD ranks 96th in overall strength of schedule, and 16th in non-conference strength of schedule.

• As a whole, USD is 9-6 again Power Five opponents in 2024, and is 4-1 against teams from the Pac-12.

BEST IN THE WEST (COAST CONFERENCE)
• From the beginning of the 2019 season until now, no baseball team in the West Coast Conference has compiled a better overall win/loss record than San Diego.

• Combining their 2019 record (32-21), their abbreviated 2020 totals (12-4), their 33-12 mark in 2021, their 37-20 record in 2022, their 24-25-1 totals in 2023, and their 30-13 record so far in 2024, the Toreros are a conference-best 169-96-1 (.638) in that 266-game span.

•  Next best within that time frame are Portland (132-113, .539), Gonzaga (143-130, .524), and Saint Mary's (143-130, .524).