SAN FRANCISCO — Coming off a series opener in which San Diego baseball tied a season-high in hits on Friday at San Francisco, the Toreros were unable to contain the Dons on Saturday in a rain-soaked afternoon, falling 7-5 at Benedetti Diamond. 

The middle game of the series saw both 3-3 and 5-5 ties before the Dons (17-15, 8-3 WCC) tacked on two runs in the eighth to prevail and even the series. 

San Diego (13-19, 6-5 WCC) knotted the score at five in the fifth inning on Jayden Lobliner's team-leading eighth home run that went out over the left field wall, plating Phoenix Brant. 

A wild third inning made things interesting. First, San Diego got runners in scoring position after Gage Mestas was hit by pitch and CJ Moran doubled to right center field, before a brief weather delay. When play resumed, reigning WCC Player of the Week Andrew Gauna lined a double into left center field gap, scoring Mestas and Moran. 

Then in the bottom half of the frame, San Francisco hit a grand slam to take a 4-3 lead. Replay review was needed to determine if the Dons runner touched first base while circling the bases after the first base umpire initially called the runner out for not touching the bag. 

The theme of touching home plate first continued for the Toreros via another two-rally in the opening frame. After Gauna walked and Lobliner singled, it set up runners at the corners with Gauna 90 feet away from scoring. 

With Connor Meidroth at the plate, Lobliner took second while Gauna dashed home, creating a double steal to lead to the game's first run. 

Diego Gutierrez struck out six Dons in his ninth start for the Toreros, despite allowing five runs in the process before being relieved for Caleb Sebek in the fourth. The freshman did not allow a run in 3.1 innings of work while striking out four to keep the game tied and give the USD offense a chance. 

Hayden Cody, who took the loss and fell to 1-2, gave up three extra base hits in the bottom of the eighth in his first appearance since getting the six-out save against Santa Clara last Thursday. 

NOTABLE 

• With a double in the third inning, Moran extends his on base streak to 18 games since March 8. During that span, the sophomore is hitting .316 (24-for-76) with 14 runs scored, four doubles, two triples, four home runs and a .374 on base percentage. 
• Lobliner and Gauna both registered two-RBI games to remain tied for the team lead at 29.
• The Buster Posey Midseason Award Watchlist selection slugged his eighth home run of the season, which is tied for the second-best mark in the WCC. By also having a first-inning single, Lobliner recorded his team-leading 12th multi-hit game this season. 
• Gauna, who was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Week on Monday, extended his hitting streak to seven games, which is the team's longest active streak. Since March 1, the graduate transfer is hitting .427 (32-for-75) with four home runs, nine doubles and 21 RBIs during that span
• Gutierrez has struck out at least five batters in each of his last seven starts and has at least six punchouts in seven of his last eight outings.
• Sebek, who threw a career-long three innings to cap off the three-inning save and a sweep last weekend against Santa Clara, extended that to 3.1 innings Saturday while striking out four, marking his sixth time this season with at least two strikeouts in a single appearance.  
• Brant went 2-for-5 with a double in his first start in the No. 2 spot of the USD lineup, marking his second consecutive multi-hit game. 

UP NEXT
San Diego and San Francisco wrap up their conference series at Benedetti Diamond Sunday. The series finale is scheduled for first pitch to begin at 1 p.m. in the Bay Area. The rubber game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Live statistics will be available via StatBroadcast.