Box Scores: Game 1 | Game 2

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The La Salle pitching staff quieted one of the nation's top hitting teams in #19/20 San Diego but the Explorers couldn't muster enough offense to knock off the Toreros, dropping both games of a doubleheader, 4-1 and 2-0, on Saturday.

USD came into the day eighth nationally in batting average (.320) and 11^th in slugging percentage (.460) but La Salle starters Eric Van Wyk and Ryan Donahue held the Toreros (28-8) bats in check for 18 innings, allowing only four earns runs in two contests.

Senior Jeff Flax had three hits on the day to lead La Salle (16-18), while senior Brendan Norton and junior Joe Bennie each had two hits in the nightcap. Senior Zack Feierstein had a hit in each contest.

Game One: San Diego 4, La Salle 1

In the opener, the Explorers threatened in the first but couldn't convert with the bases loaded and two outs. It would be a theme in the contest as La Salle stranded 10 against USD starter Calvin Drummond, who picked up his seventh win of the season. He came into the game ranked seventh nationally in victories.

San Diego scored one in the bottom of the first and added another in the fourth on a home run. Other than the round-tripper, the southpaw impressed, striking out seven and walking just one. He suffered the loss to fall to 3-4 and finished allowing four earned runs in 6.1 innings after two of his runners scored in the seventh.

The Explorers had cut it to 2-1 in the top of the seventh when California product Marshall Garcia singled and moved to second on junior Dan Klem's sacrifice bunt. He moved to third on a ground out and scored on Feierstein's two-out, pinch-hit double.

The Blue and Gold nearly tied it up on the next play, when Flax hit a single through the left side but pinch-runner Kevin Conroy was thrown out at the plate.

La Salle put runners on base in the eighth and ninth but the nation's save leader, Michael Wagner threw two scoreless frames for his 16^th save.

Kris Bryant singled, homered and drove in two for USD.

Game Two: San Diego 2, La Salle 0

Junior Ryan Donahue, a transfer from Long Beach State, got the start just two hours away from his hometown of Huntington Beach. He did not disappoint, not allowing an earned run in 6.1 innings while scattering four hits. Donahue falls to 1-1.

The two unearned runs that the Toreros scored came in the second and third innings. In the second, Bryant walked, stole second and scored on an error. The next inning, USD scored on a two-out groundball that was not fielded.

The Explorers had their best chance in the fourth off San Diego starter Dylan Covey, who was the 14^th overall pick of the 2010 Major League Draft but spurned the Milwaukee Brewers to pitch for the Toreros.

Flax singled and moved to second on Norton's walk. The duo moved up a base on senior Adam Kammler's sacrifice but La Salle could not plate a run.

In the seventh, the visitors put runners in scoring position at second and third with two outs after a Feierstein single, a Klem walk and a wild pitch. But Covey got out of the jam with a groundout.

Wagner pitched the ninth for his 17^th save.

Freshman Mike McLeod pitched the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run for La Salle.
The series concludes on Sunday at 1 PM Pacific/4 PM Eastern. Live stats and free video will be available.