SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Saint Mary's baseball team took to the diamond looking to earn the series win against the 19^th ranked Toreros.  SMC kept it close, but USD was able to pull away with the help of a four run bottom of the fourth inning, as San Diego defeated Saint Mary's by a final score of 7-3 Sunday afternoon at Cunningham Stadium.

Ben Griset (2-5) took the ball for Saint Mary's; he was in and out of trouble most of the afternoon but kept the damage to a minimum with the help of great defense.  However, his luck would run out in the bottom of the fourth when San Diego (31-9/9-3 WCC) scored four runs off four hits, the biggest a two run shot by USD's Kris Bryant to put the Toreros up 5-1.

Saint Mary's (18-19/3-9 WCC) first got on the board in the top of the fourth when Cole Norton led off the inning with a triple to right center, his fifth of the season.  He scored on the infield single to first by Collin Ferguson.  But USD's starter Paul Sewald (6-1) got out of the jam getting a pop up, and two ground outs.

For the afternoon, Sewald went 6.0 innings pitched, scattering two hits, three runs, one earned, with two walks and five strike outs.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, USD's Cory Levier singled through the right side, he moved to second on a base hit up the middle by Connor Joe.  Both runners advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Louie Lechich.  A two out base hit by Julian Duran scored Levier and Hamber to end the day for Griset.  Patrick Keane took the ball for the Gaels and promptly served up a two run shot to Bryant to score Duran and put the Toreros up 5-1.

Griset went 3.2 innings on the afternoon.  He allowed seven hits, four runs, all earned with two walks and a strike out.  Keane went 3.1 innings, allowing eight hits, three runs all earned with no walks or strike outs.  Tanner Kichler pitched the final inning allowing one hit, with no runs, striking out a pair. 

San Diego added two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when Bryant and Daniel singled to knock in runs.  Saint Mary's cut the lead to four in the top of the seventh when Patrick Wisdom reached by way of a  walk, Nick Rosso reached by way of an error, Wisdom moved to third.  Wisdom scored on an unearned run when Kalfus grounded out to second, Rosso advanced to second on the play.  Murphy singled to pitcher and Rosso scored unearned.

Saint Mary's returns to action tomorrow, when the Gaels host UC Santa Barbara at 3:00 p.m., at Louis Guisto Field.  The Gaels will likely be going with lefty Jordan Mills.