Toreros rough up Santa Clara, continue WCC domination

Gone are the days when USD was considered to be an underachieving ball club. With conference play in full swing, the Toreros are finally hitting their stride and playing like a team to be feared, especially by the other WCC opponents.  
For the Toreros, their year could be described as a tale of two seasons. In their 15 losses this season, the pitching staff has allowed an abysmal 8.2 runs per game - the worst of times. However, in their 20 wins, they have held the opponents to an average of just 3.6 runs per game - the best of times. As tacky-yet-fitting clichés go, "pitching wins championships" perfectly captures the 2010 Toreros.
Even in the best of times, the pitching staff who is finally living up to the preseason hype could not prevent another disappointing mid-week loss against UC Irvine last Tuesday. The Toreros dropped a 12-inning heartbreaker by the score of 4-3. Still, the Toreros welcomed WCC foe Santa Clara to Cunningham Stadium over the weekend for a three game series, looking to capitalize on their red-hot pitching staff.  
It was with stellar pitching that the Toreros swept the LMU Lions to open up conference play, allowing just five runs in those three wins and the weekend series with Santa Clara was no different.
Kyle Blair took the hill to start the first game of the series and he absolutely dominated the feable Broncos lineup. He went eight strong innings and allowed just two runs, striking out seven in the process. Meanwhile, the offense gave him more than enough run support as the Toreros steamrolled to a 10-2 blowout of the Broncos, a key win.
The second game was all about Sammy Solis, as is seemingly every game when the lefty takes the hill. Solis continued to make his case as the most dominant pitcher in the entire conference, allowing just two runs over seven innings.
Zach Walters, James Meador and Nick McCoy, who accounted for all six of the team's RBI in the game, led the offense onslaught. The Toreros also added three more unearned runs and they cruised to a 9-4 victory. The win improved Solis' record to a daunting 6-1 on the season.
"Our pitching staff has been great lately and it has allowed the hitters the luxury of focusing on driving in runs," Meador said of the Toreros impressive offensive outburst.
The third game also featured a fine performance on the mound as AJ Griffin limited the Broncos to three earned runs over 6.1 innings, even taking a perfect game into the fifth inning. As was true in the second game, the MVP of this match was Walters, who went 3-5 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored.
Walters finished the weekend with some gaudy numbers: 6-14, two home runs, six RBI and five runs scored. Also worthy of recognition was senior relief pitcher Matt Hauser, who came on with the tying runs in scoring position in the seventh inning and didn't allow the Broncos to score. After USD added three more insurance runs, Hauser finished off the game, earning his sixth save of the year in the team's 9-4 victory.
The win improved USD's record to 20-15 on the season; but more importantly, it kept their conference record spotless at 6-0 on the season.
"Everything is falling into place and we are exactly where we want to be," Meador said.
The Toreros open up a big series against defending WCC Champion Gonzaga tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Cunningham Stadium. The question heading in will be what team will the fans see? The one that has allowed 8.2 runs per game or the one that has shut down opposing lineups and allowed just 3.6 a game?