isaiah lane and nico libed vs. columbia - march 2025
6
Columbia COL 1-10
12
Winner San Diego USD 3-14
Columbia COL
1-10
6
Final
12
San Diego USD
3-14
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Columbia COL 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 6 9 1
San Diego USD 3 7 0 0 0 0 2 0 X 12 12 1

W: Smith, Austin (1-2) L: Sotiropoulos, Alex (1-3)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Toreros Crush Columbia in Series Opener at Fowler Park

San Diego sets new season highs in hits and runs scored in 12-6 victory over Lions on Saturday evening

SAN DIEGO — Ten runs across the first two innings of Saturday evening's series opener against Columbia led San Diego baseball (3-14, 0-0 WCC) to a 12-6 win over the Lions (1-10, 0-0 Ivy League) at Fowler Park.

Five Toreros notched multiple hits in the victory and Jack Gurevitch, Jayden Lobliner, and Nico Libed all drove in more than one run.

An RBI double from Libed and an RBI single from Austin Smith in the bottom of the first inning set the tone for a strong offensive effort that saw USD set new season highs in both hits (12) and scoring.

Columbia answered San Diego's three-run opening frame by plating a pair of runs in the top of the second to pull back within one. The Toreros responded quickly and emphatically in the bottom half of the inning, scoring seven times on a trio of RBI singles (by Libed, Gurevitch, and Rex Watson), another RBI double (from Lobliner) and a double steal that saw Gurevitch dash home from third as Smith stole second.

USD's lead stretched to a game-high nine runs in the seventh when Ryan Ward drove in Isaiah Lane with a sacrifice fly to make it 12-3 before the Lions scored three times in the top of the ninth. They got no closer after AJ Frausto bounced back from a tough-luck start to the inning to lock things up with a double play and a strikeout.

Senior left-hander Austin Smith began the game on the mound for USD and turned in five solid frames, allowing three earned runs on six hits while working around a pair of walks and striking out six.

He was relieved by junior righty David Horn Jr., who was flawless through three scoreless, one-hit innings that saw him strike out five.

NOTABLE
  • Gurevitch paced the San Diego offense with a 2-for-3 performance that included three RBIs, two runs scored, and two walks.
  • Libed, Lane, Gurevitch, Smith, and freshman AJ Beltre all had two hits on Saturday night.
  • Lane led USD with three runs scored in the series opener. Libed crossed the plate twice.
  • Watson and Watson were tied with Gurevitch for the game high in walks (two).
  • Gabe D'Arcy drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first inning, giving him RBIs in back-to-back games for the first time since April 28 and 30, 2024, when he had three against Gonzaga one against UC Irvine. 
  • Smith, Gurevitch, and Libed all stole a base in the series opener. San Diego was a perfect 3-for-3 swiping bags.
  • Freshman infielder Vincent Venverloh entered the game at second base in the top of the fifth in what marked his second college appearance. He drew a walk in the eighth and turned an 4-3 double play in the ninth.
UP NEXT
The Toreros will continue their series with Columbia tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader. First pitch against the Lions in game one at Fowler Park is set for 12:05 p.m., followed by game two approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first one.

Click here for ticketing information regarding USD's schedule changes this weekend due to inclement weather.
 
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