USD Media Release
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The 14th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team (19-11) had the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, trailing the University of Southern California (13-14) 3-2, but were unable to push across a run to allow the Trojans to come away with a 3-2 non-conference victory Wednesday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium.
With USD trailing by one in the bottom of the ninth, the Toreros would not go away easily, as Kevin Hansen began the inning with a single up the middle. Jose Valerio then singled to the shortstop, who also committed a throwing error, which allowed Valerio to reach second and Hansen to reach third with no outs. After a Victor Sanchez strikeout, Ryan Davis was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the Toreros scoring threat and leaving the game at its final of 3-2.
The Trojans got on the scoreboard first as in the first inning they scored two runs on a Derek Perren two-run double to right field to give the USC a 2-0 advantage.
San Diego was able to take back one run in their half of the inning. Kevin Muno led off the inning with a single through the left side and then stole second. Josh Romanski drove in Muno with an RBI single to right field to move the score to 2-1 in favor of the Trojans.
USD then tied the game up in the third inning as they scored one run on one hit. Logan Gelbrich took advantage of a USC third baseman throwing error to not only reach first but advance to second on the same play. Kevin Hansen then brought in Gelbrich with a RBI single down the right field line.
USC scored the go ahead run in the fifth inning when Roberto Lopez hit a ball to right field, but USD misplayed the ball allowing the runner at third to safely cross the plate on the sacrifice fly and putting the game at its final of 3-2.
Offensively for the Toreros, Hansen and Valerio both led the team in hitting with 2-for-4 performances at the plate. The only other Torero to record multiple hits was Muno who went 2-for-5.
Ricardo Pecina (1-2) looked solid on the mound for the Toreros, but was saddled with the loss as he allowed one run on four hits, while striking out nine in 7.0 innings of work. Kevin Couture (2-2) was credited with the winn for the Trojans as he allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits in 8.0 innings of work.
The Toreros will return to action on Friday as they host Gonzaga in a 3 p.m. game at Cunningham Stadium.
