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| UC Davis 3 Toreros 0 |
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The USD baseball team's struggles at home this season are such that after yesterday's 3-0 loss to UC Davis the Toreros had trouble simply putting the tarp over the infield at Cunningham Stadium.
If USD isn't pulling in the same direction after the game, what chance do the Toreros have during it?
None, to this point.
USD (7-6-1) is winless in six home games. The 18 errors committed in those six games are one explanation for the rough start. And it explains why coach Rich Hill has reassigned players at five of eight positions since the season opener.
"We have a young team," Hill said. "Everybody wants to know why we start so early. This is exactly the reason. We have a brand-new team.
"No matter what happens in the fall and January in training sessions, it all changes once you put the costumes on. That's when you find out what's going to work and what combinations you need."
USD starting pitcher Josh Butler (1-3) allowed just five hits and two earned runs in seven innings, but the Toreros committed two errors behind Butler and collected just two hits in support of him.
"Some guys lose focus a little bit (at the plate) if they're struggling on defense," said sophomore Keoni Ruth, who is learning a new position after moving from second base to third. "They just have to find their groove. We're all capable of hitting the ball."
The Aggies (4-2), playing their first season in Division I, made all the plays behind starter Dave McKae (2-1) and reliever Sean Rooney.
USD hit just three balls out of the infield against McKae, whose effectiveness with a cut fastball made it appear as if the Toreros were hitting infield for UC Davis. Ruth's first-inning single and teammate Randy Curtis' fifth-inning single represented all the Toreros' offensive output.
"Confidence is down," said Ruth. "People are struggling. But if you're struggling, don't put your head down. Don't pout. Get mad and come back more aggressive."
Aztecs fall at N.C. State
North Carolina State collected six runs in the first four innings off San Diego State starter Bruce Billings (1-1) on the way to an 8-6 victory in the opener of a three-game series in Raleigh.
SDSU (2-6) rallied repeatedly after N.C. State (5-1) took a 2-0 first-inning lead. Three times the Aztecs made it a one-run game. Each time the Wolfpack responded to pad its lead.
Shortstop Clayton Carson led the Aztecs with two hits and three RBI and catcher Jordan Swaydan added two hits and two RBI.
PLNU beats Vanguard
Point Loma Nazarene's Zach Robinson homered twice and drove in three runs in a 7-5 home win over Vanguard in the Golden State Athletic Conference opener for the Sea Lions (7-1, 1-0). In the eighth, Robinson's second homer followed teammate John Engers' two-run shot as PLNU overcame a 5-4 deficit against Vanguard (3-6, 0-1).
