University Eliminates El Toro

Garrett Atkins held El Toro hitless through five innings and University defeated the Chargers, 13-0, in a Division I wild-card baseball game Tuesday at University.

Atkins (7-2) retired the first 12 batters he faced, and 15 of 16, before being relieved in order to save innings for the Trojans’ first-round game Friday at Mater Dei.

Atkins wasn’t needed after the fifth inning, in which the Trojans scored seven runs on three hits, taking advantage of five walks and two errors by the Chargers.

University relievers Eli Stokols and Mike Gamble would have completed the no-hitter, but left fielder Gilbert Suiaunoa misjudged a short fly off the bat off Clemente Bonilla with one out in the sixth and it fell in front for a single.

University (20-7) took advantage of El Toro’s mistakes from the start. Suiaunoa’s slow roller up the middle to start the game was misplayed by shortstop Blair Lucas.

After a passed ball, a sacrifice bunt and an intentional walk to Atkins, El Toro starter Darren MacLeod (5-4) hit two consecutive batters to force in a run. Brian Sparks singled in another run and MacLeod’s day was done.

Atkins leadoff triple in the third set up Steve Nolan’s sacrifice fly, which gave University a 4-0 lead. The Trojans added two runs in the fourth on a leadoff single by Dan Candela and doubles from Mike Trubo and Randy Lukasiewicz.