SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Jayden Lobliner went 4 for 6 with a home run and four RBIs, and the San Diego Toreros erupted for 17 runs Thursday to overpower the Loyola Marymount Lions 17-8 at USD Sports Center.

San Diego improved to 18-29 overall. Loyola Marymount fell to 12-42.

The Toreros trailed 5-0 after the top of the first inning before scoring five runs in the bottom half to tie the game. Loyola Marymount regained the lead at 5-5 with two runs in the second, then extended to 7-5 with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth. But San Diego seized control in the bottom of the fifth when Lobliner launched a two-run home run to deep left field, his 10th of the season, scoring Gauna from first base to cut the deficit to 7-7.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the sixth. With the score tied at 7-7, the Toreros loaded the bases on a single, a bunt single and a hit by pitch. Lobliner singled to right field to drive in Moran and put San Diego ahead 8-7. After a pitching change, Jayton Greer delivered a three-run double to right field that cleared the bases, scoring Mestas, Gauna and Lobliner to push the lead to 11-7.

San Diego never looked back. Cade Martinez homered to deep left field in the seventh, his first of the season, making it 12-7. The Toreros added five more runs in the eighth inning on a walk with the bases loaded, a two-run double by Martinez and a two-run double by Mestas, extending the advantage to 17-7. Loyola Marymount scored once in the top of the ninth but could not complete the comeback.

The Lions took an early lead in the first inning. Ghiorso walked, Wadas doubled and Mhoon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jaxson Wall singled down the right field line for two RBIs, and Friend added an RBI single to make it 4-0. Wall was later picked off at third base, but Loyola Marymount had already built a 5-0 edge before San Diego came to bat.

San Diego answered immediately. Mestas was hit by a pitch and advanced on a throwing error. Gauna singled, and Lobliner doubled to drive in the first run. Gonzalez bunt-singled in another run, then stole second while Lobliner stole home to make it 5-3. Brant singled and Greer infield-singled for another RBI, and Martinez executed a sacrifice bunt to score Brant and cut the lead to 5-5.

Loyola Marymount went ahead 7-5 in the second on Mhoon’s two-run double, scoring Whitton and Ghiorso. The Lions added an unearned run in the fourth on a wild pitch after Lyall singled and advanced on errors, then Wall singled in Mhoon in the fifth for a 7-5 lead.

But San Diego’s bats overwhelmed the Lions’ pitching staff, which used seven pitchers. Jake Geis pitched two innings of hitless relief but allowed one earned run and struck out five. Tanner Warady threw two-thirds of a scoreless inning. For San Diego, Chaz McRoberts pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings with two strikeouts, Christian Garcia threw 1 1/3 hitless frames with two strikeouts, Caleb Sebek allowed one hit in a scoreless inning, and Logan Piper tossed a perfect ninth.

Lobliner’s performance continued a strong stretch. He went 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs on May 10 at Pacific, and had a hit and an RBI on May 8. For the Lions, Wall finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Loyola Marymount had nine hits, while San Diego pounded out 16. The Toreros took advantage of three Loyola Marymount errors and four walks.

The two teams meet again Friday and Saturday at USD Sports Center to close the series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of San Diego 2, Loyola Marymount 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected San Diego with a 70.50 percent probability to win.