SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The USF baseball team fell behind early and was never able to make up the ground, suffering an 8-2 loss at San Diego on Sunday afternoon at Fowler Park.
 
The Dons (14-14, 2-7 WCC) trailed 8-0 after six innings as San Diego hit home runs in the third and fifth innings. A pair of runs in the seventh and ninth were not enough for USF to close the gap, suffering their first sweep of the season. 
 
"We're pretty drained emotionally right now," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "The guys are battling, but we're just not coming up with that big play or that big hit or big pitch. Offensively today, we had a lot of runners in scoring position but couldn't drive them in." 
 
Their 15 runners left on base were a season high for USF.
 
Riley Helland led USF with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Dominic Miroglio and Michael Perri each collected a pair of hits.
 
A two-run home run by Riley Adams and a sacrifice fly from Bhret Bewley helped the Toreros (19-6, 8-1 WCC) jump out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning against USF starter Benji Post.
 
Post (4-1) suffered his first loss of the year with 5.2 innings where he allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
Bewley later connected for a two-run home run of his own in the fifth and the Toreros added three runs in the bottom of the sixth on three consecutive RBI singles.
 
The Dons were unable to capitalize on three San Diego errors on the day, but did scratch across their first run in the top of the seventh when Allen Smoot drove in a run with a two-out RBI single.
 
USF threatened but left the bases loaded in the top of the eighth before Smoot scored on an error in the ninth.  
 
"We're a veteran club that's got to play with some pressure now down the stretch," Giarratano added. "Tomorrow's a day for us to get back out there and hopefully play better." 
 
The Dons remain in San Diego for a nonconference matinee at San Diego State on Monday with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. from Tony Gwynn Stadium.