Baseball drops season opener to San Diego, 6-5
ROUND ROCK, Texas -- The No. 4-ranked University of Texas Longhorns dropped a 6-5 decision to the University of San Diego Toreros to open the 2007 baseball season Friday afternoon at The Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas. This is the second consecutive time the Longhorns have opened their season with a series against San Diego. San Diego (4-0) opened the scoring in the top of the third inning as Justin Snyder blasted a home run down the rightfield line. The Toreros added a second run in the top of the fourth as Daniel Magness walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single to centerfield. USD inflated the cushion to 5-0 with three runs in the top of the fifth. Josh Romanski doubled to the left centerfield gap and Jordan Abruzzo singled to put runners at the corner. The Toreros scored as Shane Buschini hit a double play ball to Chais Fuller who mishandled the grounder as the second base umpire screened the play. The muff allowed Buschini to reach and put runners at first and second. Abruzzo scored on a groundout by Magness and Kevin Hansen plated Buschini with a single through the left side of the infield. San Diego added what would end up being a much needed insurance run in the top of the sixth. Logan Gelbrich doubled to leftfield, Snyder singled through the right side to put runners at the corners and Abruzzo hit a sacrifice fly to leftfield. Texas cut the lead to 6-1 as Preston Clark singled through the left side, Bradley Suttle walked and Travis Tucker singled to rightfield, driving in Clark. UT added another run in the bottom of the seventh as Nick Peoples walked and Jordan Danks singled to rightfield to put runners at the corners. With one out, Suttle plated Peoples with a grounder to second base. A late Texas rally came up short in the ninth inning. Jordan Danks led off the inning with a single up the middle. With one out, Suttle walked to put runners at first and second. Pat McCrory hit a double to rightfield, driving in Danks and Suttle scored on an overthrow to second base. Kyle Russell drove in the final run as McCrory with a groundout to second base. Brian Matusz (2-0) picked up the win for San Diego. He pitched 5.2 innings, yielding one run on five hits and four walks, while striking out eight. Matt Couch earned the save, pitching 0.2 innings of hitless relief. Randy Boone (0-1) was saddled with the loss. He pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk. Joseph Krebs equaled a career high with six strikeouts in relief. Tucker went 3-for-4 with one RBI to lead Texas at the plate. Danks and Wheeless each added two hits. San Diego was paced by Snyder, Hansen and Gelbrich with three hits apiece. Texas and San Diego return to action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest at The Dell Diamond.
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