SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Leading for a majority of the contest on Saturday night, the University of San Francisco baseball team (14-20, 15-11 WCC), dropped a hard-fought game, 6-5, to San Diego at Fowler Park as the Toreros walked off in the bottom of the ninth to secure the comeback victory.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Getting the scoring start in the top of the first, Mario DeMera singled and then stole second base before Michael Campagna laced an RBI single up the middle to plate DeMera and give USF the early 1-0 lead.
• Responding shortly thereafter, the Toreros answered with three runs in the home half of the first, which included back-to-back home runs to begin their turn at the dish. After the first inning, San Diego held a 3-1 advantage.
• After a scoreless second from both sides, the Dons got the bats going again as DeMera crushed a ball over the right field fence to put help the green and gold inch loser, 3-2. After a walk from Campagna and a single from Christian Stapleton, Will Asby delivered the go-ahead blow as the right fielder drove a two-run double into the right center field gap to give USF the lead back, 4-3.
• Similar to the second, neither side made much noise in the fourth or fifth innings, but the Dons added to their lead in the top of the sixth. Launching his first home run at the Division I level, Mattie Thomas blasted his first long ball of the season to push the score to 5-3 in favor of USF through six innings complete.
• Getting one back in the seventh, Dustin Allen recorded an RBI single of his own to bring the Toreros back within one, 5-4, after seven full innings.
• Fast forwarding to the ninth, USD tied the game on a fielder's choice from Allen as Ian Blazer came full speed around third base on a ground ball to second to even things up at 5. One batter later, Will Worthington lined the game-winning single through the right side of the infield as Kevin Sim came around to score and give San Diego the 6-5 walk-off win.  

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• For Thomas, Saturday was a night of firsts as the CSUN transfer tallied his first home run, RBI and run scored at the Division I level.
• Continuing to be one of the most dangerous hitters in the conference, DeMera pushed his hitting streak to seven games as he also tallied his sixth 3+ hit game and 13^th multi-hit performance of the season by finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one home run and one RBI on for the Dons. Notably, his .382 batting average after Saturday's contest is good for third in the WCC.
• Giving his team a chance to win, starting pitcher Adam Shew tossed 5.2 innings of quality baseball as the right-hander went at least 5.0 innings for the sixth time in time nine starts this year.
• Logging his 15^th appearance on the mound this year, Weston Lombard went at least 2.0 innings for the ninth time as the left-hander was reliable out of the bullpen for USF once again. Overall, he finished with 2.1 innings pitched against USD as he allowed only one run on four hits and one walk. 

UP NEXT:
Game three of the weekend series between the Dons and the Toreros is scheduled for 1:00 pm tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 23 at Fowler Park. Live streaming and live statistics links are available via the team's schedule page.
 
FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the USF baseball program, be sure to follow @SFDonsBaseball on Twitter, @USFDonsBaseball on Instagram and @University.of.San.Francisco.Baseball on Facebook.
 
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Rep USF today by visiting the all-new USF Dons online store at www.usfdons.com/shop.
 
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge our department sponsor – Coca-Cola - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.