CBB News Sources
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The 12th-ranked University of San Diego baseball team completed a three-game sweep over Saint Mary’s College with a 5-1 win Sunday afternoon in a West Coast Conference game at USD’s Cunningham Stadium.
With the win, the Toreros improve to 31-11 overall, move to 10-2 in the WCC, run their winning streak to 12 games and sweep their third consecutive WCC team. With the loss, the Gaels fall to 20-16-1 overall and 4-8 in the WCC.
The Toreros got on the scoreboard first as they scored one run on one hit in the second inning. With two outs, both Kevin Hansen and Tony Strazzara got things started with back-to-back walks. Jose Valerio then drove in Hansen with a RBI single up the middle to give USD a 1-0 lead.
The Toreros then doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as they scored one run on one hit. Hansen led off the inning with a stand-up double to left centerfield and moved to third on a throwing error by the SMC pitcher on a pick-of attempt. Hansen then came across when Kevin Muno reached on a fielder’s choice to give USD a 2-0 lead.
After the Toreros scored another run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Victor Sanchez RBI single, the Gaels took one back on a Randy Wells RBI single to cut the lead down to two at 3-1.
San Diego then responded with a two-run bottom of the sixth inning. Strazzara was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and moved to second on a Valerio single to left field. Muno then loaded the bases with a walk and two batters later, James Meador drove the ball deep into the left field corner for a two-run single to give USD a 5-1 lead.
Offensively for the Toreros, Meador led the way as he went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Valerio and Hansen were the only other USD players to record multiple hits as Hansen went 2-for-3 with one double and Valerio went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Sammy Solis (3-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Toreros as he allowed one unearned run on six hits, while striking out six in 6.0 innings of work. Justin Kuks (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Gaels as he allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits in 5.0 innings work.
