April 6, 2004
SAN DIEGO - The University of San Diego scored six runs over the first three innings and cruised to a 9-2 victory over San Diego State at USD's Cunningham Stadium Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Toreros reached the .500 mark as they improved to 17-17 on the year. The loss in the non-conference affair dropped the Aztecs to 17-19.
SDSU used seven pitchers over eight innings and substituted freely among the field players with limited success. Freshman right-hander Bruce Billings, making just his third start of the season, gave up four runs in the first inning and took the loss to fall to 1-1.
After loading the bases on three walks with one out in the first, USD got a two-run double from catcher Jordan Abruzzo, a passed ball to score a run, and an RBI single by Randy Curtis to jump out to a 4-0 lead. The Toreros added a pair in the third off reliever Dan Bruckart on three hits and a pair of SDSU errors.
Sophomore Justin Blaine started on the mound for USD, but in the second gave way to senior Patrick Lucy, who went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on just two hits while striking out 5 and walking 2. Lucy improved to 2-0 with the winning effort.
SDSU senior third baseman Chad Corona had two of the Aztecs' five hits on the afternoon, reaching safely with a leadoff single in the second and a two-out double in the fourth before being replaced in the field in the top of the fifth.
San Diego State scored its two runs in the top of eighth. After David Hall was hit by pitch and Chad Williams drew a walk, Lucy was replaced by reliever Josh Butler. SDSU's Rielly Embrey greeted the new pitcher with an RBI single to left scoring Hall and ending USD's shutout bid. Williams then scored SDSU's second run on Brian Kinsman's ground out to short.
The Toreros answered back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning off right-hander Jeff Teasley. Those three runs came courtesy of three hits and three SDSU errors.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game conference series at Air Force beginning Thursday, April 8. Game time for the opening contest against the Falcons has been changed to noon (MDT) from its original start time of 2:00 p.m.
SanDiego 8, San Diego State 2SDS 000 000 020 - 2 5 5USD 402 000 03x - 8 11 1Billings, Zink (2), Bruckart (3), Pace (4), Esparza (5), Douglas (6), Teasley (8) and SwaydanBlaine, Lucy (2), Butler (8) and AbruzzoW - Lucy (2-0)L - Billings (1-1)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 481Time - 2:35