SAN DIEGO — A first-inning blast from Jack Gurevitch provided a spark for the Torero bats in their 2025 season opener, but San Diego baseball (0-1, 0-0 WCC) couldn't hang on in extra innings to beat No. 23 TCU (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) on Friday night, dropping a tough 5-4 extra inning decision to the Horned Frogs in front of a crowd of 1,104 at Fowler Park. 

USD got off to a quick start, as Gurevitch boomed the very first pitch he saw over the right-field wall to give his team some momentum early. An RBI single from Austin Smith paired with an RBI sacrifice fly from Jayden Lobliner gave the Toreros an early 4-0 lead before two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings from the Horned Frogs sent the game to extra innings, where the Toreros could not hold on. 

Redshirt freshman righty Cal Scolari shined in his collegiate debut, striking out nine through five one-hit innings. His performance was backed up by Dallin Harrison, who threw two scoreless frame out of the bullpen, with three strikeouts. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Gurevitch ripped the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for a line drive solo home run to give the Toreros an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. 
• After Isaiah Lane tripled in his first ever at-bat as a Torero, Lobliner recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to bring him home and give USD a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. 
• Gurevitch and Aden Howard executed a double steal in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
• Smith then sent Gurevitch home from second with an RBI single to center, making it 4-0 USD after the fifth inning of play. 
• TCU sent a two-run homer to right field in the top of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 4-2. 
• A two-run inside the park homer run from the Horned Frogs in the top of the seventh inning followed, tying the game at four runs apiece. 
• An RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the eleventh gave TCU a one run lead in extra innings that it did not relinquish. 

ON THE MOUND

• In what marked his Torero debut and his first pitching appearance since his junior year of high school, Scolari threw five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out nine of the 18 total batters he faced. 
• Harrison then entered in relief of Aidan Gonzalez in the seventh inning and tossed two scoreless frames, striking out three before making way for Fernando Palencia, who entered out of the bullpen with two outs in the top of the ninth and who finished the job to send the game to extra innings. 
• Palencia stayed on the mound to pitch the top of the tenth and allowed just one run, finishing his night with 1.1 innings pitched, and one strikeout.  

TORERO TIDBITS

• Howard made his collegiate debut on Friday night and got the first hit of his career when he legged out an infield single to shortstop in the bottom of the ninth inning. 
• Logan Reddemann began the game at second base in what marked the first non-pitching start of his Torero career and went 2-for-3 with a bunt single, a double, and a walk. His fourth-inning double was his first college hit. 
• Palencia made his collegiate debut on the mound and forced a clutch groundout in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings, before returning to pitch the tenth inning. 
• Former USD catcher Ariel Armas threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a banner was unveiled along the first base concourse celebrating his 2024 Gold Glove Award. The new banner for Armas sits alongside similar ones for Kris Bryant and Brian Matusz.
• San Diego baseball honored Matusz, who passed away in January, with a pregame moment of silence. 
• Friday night marked the first game in Fowler Park history that featured video replay review. Two calls were challenged; one was confirmed and one stood as called. 

UP NEXT
The Toreros will continue their series with No. 23 TCU tomorrow evening. First pitch at Fowler Park is set for 5:05 p.m. PST.