SAN DIEGO — San Diego baseball took an early 6-2 lead on Saturday evening, scoring four runs in the second inning and two in the third as its WCC series against Seattle U continued at Fowler Park.

But the Toreros (13-23, 6-8 WCC) were unable to muster any more offense, falling 11-6 to the Redhawks (14-19, 9-5 WCC) after the visitors scored in five of the game's final six frames.

As Seattle U opened with two runs in the top of the second, USD punched right back in the bottom half. Phoenix Brant started the second-inning rally by getting on base with a dropped third strike. After Gage Mestas singled and Cade Martinez worked an 11-pitch at-bat into a walk to load the bases, San Diego baseball's signature offensive identity was on full display. 

Aden Howard laid down a bunt single, scoring Brant. Moments later, Diego Gonzalez followed suit with a run-scoring bunt single of his own, bringing Mestas home. Because of a throwing error on the play, Martinez also came around to score. 

San Diego went on to cap off the four-run second with a sacrifice fly by Andrew Gauna, bringing home Howard to make it 4-2 in the home team's favor. 

In the third inning, a leadoff walk by CJ Moran and a double to right by Connor Meidroth put two runners in scoring position for Brant. The freshman proceeded to rip a two-RBI single to center field to extend the Toreros' lead to 6-2. It marked the first of two hits for Brant as the No. 5 hitter in the USD lineup.   

Seattle U went on to score nine times across the last six innings to pull away and secure the win. 

Diego Gutierrez got the start on the mound for the Toreros. He came one out short of going five innings and struck out four. 

A couple of newcomers to San Diego in 2026 – freshman Lucas Shannon and junior Reece Bueno – combined for 1.2 innings of scoreless work in the sixth and seventh. 

NOTABLE 

• Brant and Mestas both had two hits for the Toreros. Saturday marked Brant's third multi-hit game and Mestas' fourth such performance of 2026. 
• With his walk in the third inning, Moran has reached base in 20 of his last 22 games, dating back to USD's series finale at California (March 8).
• Shannon delivered his third scoreless appearance of the season and his first since USD played at UC Irvine (April 7)  
• Bueno, who made his San Diego debut earlier this week at Cal State Fullerton, logged his first scoreless appearance as a Torero during the seventh inning. 

UP NEXT
The Toreros will conclude their series against Seattle U tomorrow afternoon. First pitch in the Sunday finale is set for 1:00 p.m.