Baron’s Grand Slam Carries USD Past Iowa

Sean Baron, who missed 19 games because of a knee injury, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning Wednesday to erase a 2-1 deficit and send the University of San Diego on to a 7-3 nonconference college baseball victory over Iowa at Cunningham Stadium.

The home run was only the second of the season for Baron, the cleanup hitter who hit 16 home runs to set a USD record last year. Without Baron, USD struggled early this season, but since his return two weeks ago, the Toreros (17-14) have won 8 of 10 games.

Iowa (6-4) took a 2-0 lead on Chris Hatcher’s fifth home run of the year in the second inning. USD trailed, 2-1, in the sixth when Baron homered to put the Toreros ahead, 5-2.

Dave Monastero (2-3) pitched two scoreless innings of relief. USD returns to West Coast Athletic Conference play Friday at Pepperdine.

Harry Henderson was 4 for 5 with an RBI to lead San Diego State to a 9-4 nonconference victory over Western Oregon State (9-4) at Smith Field. Henderson is hitting .516 (48 for 94) for the season.

Dave Riddle (1-1) pitched four innings, allowing just one hit, for the victory. Steve Montejano hit his third home run for the Aztecs. SDSU (17-10-1) will begin Western Athletic Conference play Friday at home against Brigham Young.

Gary Fessia had two hits and drove in three runs to lead UC San Diego, the nation’s No. 4-ranked Division III team, to an 8-5 victory over Concordia (Ore.) College. Later Wednesday, UCSD lost to Willamette (Ore.) College, 12-11, despite four RBIs by Brian Crawford. Both games were played at La Verne College. UCSD is 11-7.

GOLF

The San Diego County Junior Golf Assn. will be hosting tournaments on eight different county courses next week.

The busy schedule begins Monday with the La Jolla Junior Invitational. Golfers 15 to 17 will play at the La Jolla Country Club, ages 13-14 at Torrey Pines, Class C players at Tecolote Canyon and 12-and-under players at Presidio Hills.

The four age divisions will compete at Balboa Park in the City Junior Championships on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Friday, in the Titleist Junior Championships, the 15- to 17-year-olds will play at Whispering Palms, the 13- and 14-year-olds at Oaks North, and the 11- and 12-year-olds and 10-and-unders at Rancho Carlsbad.

Defending boys’ and girls’ champions, Troy Barnes and Christy Erb will be back to defend their 15-17 titles.

FOOTBALL

San Diego State University’s intrasquad football scrimmage, which was scheduled for Friday, has been moved to today at 4 p.m. on the SDSU football practice field.

TENNIS

The Grossmont College women’s tennis team defeated Orange Coast College, 7-2, at Orange Coast in a match between the state’s top two community college teams.

Top-ranked Grossmont (12-1-1) lost No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles but won all the other matches.