CHARLOTTE, NC – On this Valentine's Day, there was a definite love for baseball for the San Diego Toreros as they played not one, but two games Saturday to wrap up their opening series on the road at Charlotte. 

Although the offense for the Toreros started slow in a lopsided first game, the bats came alive in the weekend finale to earn a doubleheader split and a series win over the 49ers. 

Game 1: Charlotte 13, San Diego 0 (Seven Innings)

The Toreros lost the opening game of the doubleheader, 13-0, as they were limited to just four hits in the mercy rule-shortened contest.

Saturday's first game brought the return of Drake Frize, who had elbow surgery and had not pitched in a Toreros uniform in 652 days. In his first start back, the graduate student gave up five hits and four runs with a walk while striking out two on 71 pitches.  
 
Frize started off with a solid first inning by retiring all three 49ers hitters in order, despite running into trouble beginning in the second, giving up three runs.  
 
After giving up one more run in the third, he finished his outing on a high note, once again retiring Charlotte in order on a couple of flyouts and a ground out. 

USD had its chances to score. 

In the fourth, after Adrian Beltre Jr. walked, Gabe Springer doubled to the left center field gap, setting up runners at second and third with one out. 

However, Beltre tried to tag up on a fly ball to right field before being called out at the plate for an inning-ending double play. 

After Frize worked his four innings, Jagger Edwards made his season debut. He allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of work 

Then Caleb Sebek pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing six runs, on three hits and two walks, leading to the game being called in the seventh. 

Game 2: San Diego 14, Charlotte 4

It ultimately took a total of 11 innings to get the Toreros bats going, but when it did, the hits came early and often. 

From the fifth inning on, San Diego scored in bunches with three in the fifth, five in the sixth and six more in the ninth to ensure a happy flight back to San Diego.

Aden Howard, who went 3-for-6 with three runs and two RBI, opened the fifth inning with a triple to left. Then CJ Moran legged out an infield single on a call that was overturned after review, which also scored Howard. 

After Moran stole second base and moved up another 90 feet with a wild pitch, Gabe Springer turned on a pitch for a two-run shot and gave USD its first lead of the day. 

Then in the sixth, the San Diego bats continued to be on fire. Jayton Greer, who went 3-for-4,   singled to right before Diego Gonzalez and Howard laid down perfect bunts to get on, setting up the bases loaded. 

With two outs, Beltre recorded the third infield hit of the inning, scoring Greer and Gonzalez to take a 5-1 lead, as a result of a Charlotte error. 

Springer continued the inning by getting hit, setting up another bases-loaded opportunity for Jayden Lobliner, who delivered with a bases-clearing double off the right center field wall, scoring Howard, Beltre and Springer to extend San Diego's lead to 8-1. 

After the 49ers cut USD's lead in half with a three-run seventh, the Toreros put the finishing touches to a series win with a six-run ninth inning.  
  
The Toreros batted around, sending 11 men to the plate. Gonzalez delivered a two-RBI single, scoring Lobliner and Andrew Gauna. Howard logged his second triple of the afternoon, scoring Greer and Gonzalez. An ensuing extra base hit for CJ Moran plated Howard before Lobliner came back up and logged an RBI walk to stamp a six-run frame. 

On the mound, Kyle Bade went four innings allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out four. Nate Deschryver, who earned the win, struggled a bit in his 2.1 innings of work. 

However, Porter Rovin and Chaz McRoberts shut down the 49ers the rest of the way for the final eight outs to secure a winning trip.    

Before USD has its home opener next weekend as part of the Tony Gwynn Classic, San Diego will play at Long Beach State on Tuesday. First pitch between the Toreros and the Dirtbags is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.  

NOTABLE

• In the second game, Aden Howard, went 3-for-6 with three runs, two RBI and two triples. 
• Saturday's second game was also Howard's fourth three-hit game of his collegiate career.
• Also registering a three-hit game was Jayton Greer, who got the start behind the plate. Greer went 3-or-4 two runs and a hit by pitch. 
• As a result of Greer catching, Jayden Lobliner got the start at first base. He was one of six Toreros with multi-hit performances and one of four with two knocks. Lobliner also recorded four RBIs, highlighted by his bases-clearing double. 
• Porter Rovin made his season debut in the second game of the doubleheader, firing a scoreless outing in 1.2 innings of work.
• Chaz McRoberts made his San Diego debut Saturday. He allowed a two-out single before recording his second strikeout of the inning to end the game.