Irvine Loses, 6-5, to San Diego Despite 3-Run Lead in Seventh

The University of San Diego erupted for five runs in the seventh inning to erase a 4-1 UC Irvine lead and give the Toreros a 6-5 win Tuesday at Irvine.

The Torero rally began with back-to-back RBI doubles by Dave Rolls and Dan Echeveste. Then Jeff Grotewold hit a three-run home run, his sixth of the season.

Irvine scored three runs in the second. The first came on a fielder’s choice, the second a two-run single by Mike Sugar. The other Anteater score was helped by an error in the third.

Tom Sizer (3-7) went the distance for San Diego (14-32). Damon Carr (1-3) lost in relief for Irvine (21-22-1).

In other college baseball action:

Fullerton 3, Chapman 2--Chapman tied it in the eighth with a two-run double by Craig Kuhse. That came after starting pitcher Mike Harke had thrown seven shutout innings, allowing only three singles and no walks. Reliever Doug Robertson came in and gave up the two runs. Robertson earned the win in the bottom in the eighth when Blaine Larker’s two-out single scored Rich Slominski. Larker also singled in the first Fullerton run in the second inning.

The other Fullerton run was scored in the fourth when Larker hit into a double play.

Robertson’s record moves to 4-4 with the win. The loser, Mike Lomeli (2-3), pitched the last three innings. Fullerton is 28-25-1. Chapman is 16-23.