The University of San Diego survived Saturday, defeating Fresno State 7-5 in an elimination game at the NCAA Regional in Santa Barbara.
The Toreros (41-14) now must face the regional’s top seed, UC Santa Barbara, at noon Sunday, after Oregon defeated the Gauchos 2-1 in Saturday’s late game, which had been locked in a scoreless tie for six innings.
The WCC champions jumped out to a quick lead over the Mountain West tournament winners after a two-run homer by Jakob Christian in the top of the first inning.
Up 3-1 after adding a run in the fourth, USD saw three men cross the plate the next inning, on a leadoff single by Dustin Allen, followed by a double by Will Worthington. Allen scored on a groundout by Angelo Peraza and Ariel Armas drove in Worthington with another double.
Fresno State (33-29) wanted nothing to do with Christian, the WCC Player of the Year, intentionally walking him. But one out later, Jack Costello struck the Toreros’s third double of the inning to bring Armas home for a 6-1 lead.
But the Bulldogs came roaring back in their half of the fifth, scoring four to make it a one-run game. Triston “Murf” Gray delivered the big blow, a three-run shot off starter Austin Smith.
USD added an insurance run in the top of the eighth with a Jack Gurevitch solo homer to right and reliever Alex Schrier made a statement in the bottom of the inning, striking out the side.
With the Bulldogs weren’t done. With one out, they managed back-to-back singles in the ninth, but Schrier induced Gray, their fifth-inning hero, to ground into a double play that ended both the game and Fresno State’s season.
If the Toreros win early Sunday they face a late game, at 6 p.m., that could determine the regional champion. A second game, if necessary, will take place Monday.
