Abruzzo slugs three homers as Toreros avoid elimination

By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer | Sunday, June 4, 2006 6:35 AM PDT ∞

FULLERTON ---- Jordan Abruzzo spent some agonizing moments beating himself up for striking out in the ninth inning of Friday's one-run loss. The University of San Diego catcher made up for it Saturday by pounding on Saint Louis pitching.

Abruzzo blasted three long home runs to help the Toreros beat the Billikens 19-12 in the NCAA baseball regionals before 1,446 at Cal State Fullerton's Goodwin Field. The victory keeps the Toreros alive in the double-elimination regional. They play at 5:05 p.m. today against Fresno State, a 9-2 loser to Cal State Fullerton late Saturday night.

All three of Abruzzo's homers came while the switch-hitting junior was batting left-handed, and two of them went deep into the trees beyond the right-field fence. Overall, he went 5-for-5 with four runs scored and eight RBIs.

"I'm speechless," Abruzzo said. "Guys were asking me in the dugout how it feels, and I really can't explain it. It was one of those things that just happen. I took some good swings on balls, and they were carrying and I was fortunate to get a few out and help us win."

Although Abruzzo pounded the long ball and the two teams combined for 32 hits, it was a bunt that provided the go-ahead run for the Toreros (33-24).

With the game tied 12-12 and runners on first and second with none out in the bottom of the eighth inning, left-handed-hitting Shane Buschini laid down a bunt toward third base. The throw to first by Saint Louis third baseman B.J. Rodrigue got away from first baseman Tim Landy, and USD's Michael Lugo scored from the second.

"That is ironic," USD coach Rich Hill said. "That's our style. We definitely play small ball and subscribe to that theory. Our pitching has escaped us in this tournament, but our offense has picked us up."

The Toreros had only one hit in the eighth inning while scoring seven runs. Naturally, the one hit was by Abruzzo ---- a three-run double down the right-field line.

Abruzzo's failure to come through in the clutch Friday in the 9-8 loss to Fresno State was overshadowed by the unique way the game ended. David Harris represented the potential go-ahead run when he was picked off first by Rancho Bernardo High alumnus Brandon Burke, who executed the fake to third, throw to first pickoff move to perfection.

Yet there was no mistaking that striking out for the second out of that inning greatly bothered Abruzzo.

"I came out with a little chip on my shoulder, to be honest," Abruzzo said. "It's frustrating when stuff like that happens, but it's baseball.

"We talk about perseverance a lot and to come back like that was great. It's good to get a win here and we're going to keep fighting. We're not out of this thing."

Abruzzo's big day started with a first-inning RBI single. The Toreros built a 10-0 lead after four innings behind four homers ---- two by Abruzzo and one each by Justin Snyder and Josh Romanski. But Saint Louis (32-29) got back into the game with an eight-run fifth inning.

Abruzzo's third homer made it 11-8 in the sixth, and USD was up 12-8 before the Billikens pushed across four runs against Romanski (5-4) to tie the score.

Toreros second baseman Keoni Ruth missed the game after dislocating his left shoulder Friday. Hill termed Ruth doubtful for the game tonight.

Contact staff writer Mike Sullivan at (760) 739-6645 or msullivan@nctimes.com. To comment, go to nctimes.com.