May 8, 2005

Box Score

SPOKANE, Wash. - The University of San Diego defeated the Gonzaga University baseball team 5-2 in a West Coast Conference game Sunday afternoon at Avista Stadium.

With the win the Toreros win the three-game series, pull even with the Bulldogs for first place in the WCC Coast Division, improve to 29-24-1 overall and 15-12 in the WCC. With the loss the Bulldogs drop to 26-20 overall and 13-10 in the WCC.

San Diego got on the boards first as they scored two runs in the first inning on a Keoni Ruth solo home run and a Randy Curtis sacrifice fly to right field. The Toreros would add two more runs to the lead in the eighth inning on a Shane Buschini run scoring double and a Jordan Abruzzo RBI single down the right field line.

The Bulldogs then took a run back in the eighth inning. Aaron McGuinness would start things off for the Zags with his single through the left side and moved to second on Scott Campbell's ground out to the second baseman. Freshman third baseman Darin Holcomb then brought in McGuinness on his double to right field cutting the Zags deficit to three.

After the Toreros added one run in the ninth inning the Bulldogs put on their rally caps and dug in to try for another come-from-behind win. Senior Jeff Culpepper led off with a walk and moved to second on Kiel Thibault's single to center field. Bobby Carlson then singled to left field which brought Culpepper home. GU was unable to push across another run giving the Toreros the 5-2 win.

The Bulldogs offense was led by McGuinness who went 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Matthew Couch (4-3) picked up the win for the Toreros allowing one run on six hits in 7.2 innings of work. Bobby McEwen (1-4) was saddled with the loss for the Bulldogs allowing three runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings of work.

The Bulldogs will return to the diamond on Tuesday for a non-conference affair with Lewis-Clark State College at 3 p.m. at Avista Stadium.