Baron’s Home Run Lifts USD to Split

University of San Diego right-hander Tom Seyler allowed 13 hits and 7 runs but pitched a complete game as the Toreros beat Nevada-Reno, 8-7, in the second game of a West Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday at USD. UNR won the first game, 11-1.

With the Toreros ahead 7-5 in eighth inning, first baseman Sean Baron hit a bases-empty home run. USD needed that run because Wolf Pack third baseman Jeff Lawrence hit a two-run homer in the ninth.

Baron and Robbie Rogers each drove in two runs for USD, and center fielder David Jacas went 3 for 5. The win gives Seyler a 4-2 record. Andy Smith (2-2) took the loss for the Wolf Pack.

In the opener, UNR first baseman John Preciado had three doubles and four RBIs, and catcher Jim Puzey had two hits and drove home three runs. The Toreros’ only run came on a third-inning home run by Jacas.

Ted Higgins (3-1), who pitched a four-hitter, was the winner. Greg Bertrand (3-6), who was hit for seven runs in the fourth inning, was the loser. USD is 3-3 in conference and 9-16-1 overall. UNR 3-2 and 9-9. In other action:

Western New Mexico 3-12, UC San Diego 1-3--At Olsen Field in La Jolla, the Tritons lost twice to Western New Mexico. Steve Oizumi pitched a complete game for WNM in the opener, and Brian Widner hit a solo home run. David de Cordova (4-3) was the loser for UCSD.

Western New Mexico had 18 hits in the second game. Richard Hoth, Mike Parris and Dave Lopez had three hits apiece, and Keith Nelson homered. Wayne Jackson went all the way and had 11 strikeouts for the winners. Russ Strange (1-1) was the loser. The Tritons are 14-10-1.