TOREROS’ RUGGED ROAD STRETCH ROLLS ON

When he booked the 2023 schedule, USD coach Brock Ungricht did so with the idea of challenging the Toreros with nine straight games against NCAA Regional-caliber competition away from the friendly confines of Fowler Park.

It began last week with four games at Oregon and another one at No. 25 Oregon State. It concludes this weekend with three games at No. 10 TCU and a Tuesday night game at No. 16 UCLA.

So far, USD’s take-all-comers approach has not worked — at least not when it comes to wins. The Toreros (5-6-1) have lost five in a row. Ungricht is undeterred. “I believe as a coach your job is to teach, motivate and challenge your players,” Ungricht said. “I feel like this tough road stretch is doing exactly that. Our guys are learning about themselves individually and as a team.

“I believe this test will help us for the rest of the season.”

All this is the leadup to West Coast Conference play, which USD opens next week against Pacific.

TCU (7-5) represents the biggest challenge. The Horned Frogs’ weekend rotation includes three pitchers — RHPs Kole Klecker (2-1, 2.19), Cam Brown (1-0, 2.45) and Ryan Vanderhei (1-1, 2.70) — sporting sub-3.00 ERAs with a combined 53 strikeouts in 43 innings.

It’s a true test for USD’s offense, which is averaging nine runs a game at home but has managed just two runs a game on this road trip. Juniors Jack Costello (6 HR, 19 RBIs) and Kevin Sim (3 HR, 11 RBIs) have been the Toreros’ top run producers.

USD never lost more than two games in a row last season while winning the WCC Tournament championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years.

Ungricht wanted to stress his players early in order to prepare them for what is to come. He remains encouraged despite the losses.

This weekend: Today-Sunday at TCU, 4:30 p.m./Noon/11 a.m.

San Diego State

This weekend: Today-Saturday vs. San Jose State, 11 a.m. (DH)/3 p.m.

Notable: The Aztecs (4-7, 2-1 Mountain West) open conference play against the two teams predicted to finish ahead of them in the conference. Last week it was UNLV, where SDSU won two of three. This week it is San Jose State (6-5, 3-0), which is coming off a sweep of Fresno State.

The series was scheduled to be played in San Jose, but it was moved Thursday afternoon to SDSU’s Tony Gwynn Stadium because of expected rain in the Bay Area. Admission is free for all three games.

Rain also is in the local forecast for Friday night, which is why the teams will try to play an early doubleheader and work Saturday’s finale around the wet weather.

SDSU ranks third in the MW in both batting (.277) and pitching (4.36 ERA). The Aztecs have one player ranked in the top 10 in hitting — sophomore OF Shaun Montoya (.371) — and one pitcher ranked in the top 10 in pitching —junior RHP Jonny Guzman (2.92 ERA).

UC San Diego

This weekend: Today-Sunday vs. Northern Colorado, Noon/2 p.m./1 p.m.

Notable: The Tritons (5-6) play their last nonconference series before moving into Big West play, meeting a Northern Colorado (2-10) team that has lost 10 straight games. The Bears pitching staff has a 13.30 ERA, ballooned by two games in particular, against New Mexico (30 runs allowed) and Washington (32 runs).

UCSD sophomore RHP Ryan Forcucci (San Marcos High) has been the Tritons’ top starting pitcher, compiling a 3.14 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks over 141⁄3 innings. Senior catcher Emilano Gonzalez leads the Tritons with two homers and 10 RBIs.

Point Loma Nazarene

This weekend: Saturday at Hawaii Pacific, 3 p.m. (DH); Monday at Hawaii Pacific, 3 p.m. (DH).

Notable: The Sea Lions (10-6, 1-3 PacWest) conclude their eight-game visit to Hawaii after dropping three of four games to Hawaii-Hilo at the start of the week.

PLNU sophomore 1B Jakob Christian saw his eight-game home run streak end Monday against Hilo. He finishes one game shy of the NCAA record for consecutive games with a homer, but continues to lead the PacWest in home runs (10) and is sixth in RBIs (18).

PLNU leads the conference in batting (.331), slugging (.566) and home runs (31) and faces a Hawaii Pacific (8-10, 5-6) team which ranks last in the PacWest with a 6.69 team ERA.

Cal State San Marcos

This weekend: Today-Sunday vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 2 p.m./11 a.m. (DH)/Noon.

Notable: The Cougars (6-8, 0-4 CCAA) look to get back on track after being swept last weekend by No. 5 Cal State San Bernardino, but in CS Dominguez Hills (9-5, 4-0) they face the team that shares first place.

Sophomore RHP Pat McDonald Jr. (2-1, 3.20 ERA) leads the San Marcos pitching staff.

Dominguez Hills has a 4.06 team ERA, which is more than 21⁄2 runs better than San Marcos (6.67). Toros junior outfielder Eric Smelko (Helix High) leads the CCAA with a .569 batting average (33-for-58).