It's not named after USD's Kyle Blair, but the freshman right-hander pitched as if he owned the place last night in a 15-1 win over Fresno State.

Make that co-owned.

USD junior left-hander Ricardo Pecina was just as dominant as Blair earlier in the day in a 5-1 victory that eliminated host Long Beach State.

“It was an absolute dogfight with Cal State Long Beach,” said USD coach Rich Hill. “To carry that momentum over and really play loose in the nightcap was awesome.”

Blair and Pecina, combined with a rejuvenated USD offense, gave the Toreros an extended lease on life in the Long Beach Regional.

USD plays Fresno State again today at 6 p.m. in the regional final. The winner advances to the Super Regionals, where it will meet Arizona State in a best-of-three series that sends the winner to the College World Series.

“I thought we were ready to play, then you walk 11 guys and it takes a little air out,” said Fresno State coach Mike Batesole. “They earned the position they're in. Now we'll be here to finish it off tomorrow.”

Yesterday's wins were significant for several reasons:

USD reached a regional final for the first time. In fact, the Toreros had just three wins to show for four previous postseason appearances before this weekend's three victories.

USD defeated its postseason nemesis. Fresno State had beaten the Toreros in four straight tournament games – including a 6-0 win on Saturday – in the past three years.

USD (44-16) set a school record for wins, eclipsing last season's 43 victories.

The Toreros' vaunted pitching staff, considered one of the deepest in the nation, has become the story of the regional. USD has used just six pitchers in four games.

Pecina (6-4), a junior from Madison High, showed the same sharpness he displayed six weeks ago in a win over the Dirtbags that included 11 strikeouts.

“There's confidence once you do it once,” said Pecina, who allowed one run and six hits yesterday and struck out eight in seven innings. “Having the success earlier, knowing that you can get it done, is the biggest thing.”

USD broke open a tense 2-1 game against the Dirtbags with three runs in the ninth, two coming on James Meador's two-out, bases-loaded single.

Toreros closer A.J. Griffin got the last six outs for his school-record 14th save.

Asked if winning and staying on the field would give USD some momentum, Hill said, “We're in a rhythm, for sure. We're ripping our hearts out and throwing it on the field.”

Blair took the heart out of the Bulldogs, who could have clinched the regional with a win. Fresno State (39-28) didn't get its first hit off Blair until the fifth inning, when Danny Muno hit a two-out single to right.

Blair (8-4) walked four and hit a batter early, but the Bulldogs couldn't catch up to his fastball and flailed at many of his other offerings. He allowed one run and four hits and had strikeouts in seven innings.

“Coach really stresses not attaching things to games,” said Blair. “That's what I did. I took it as a normal game against Fresno State. Nothing more, nothing less.”

USD's offense came alive just 24 hours after looking lifeless against the Bulldogs.

The Toreros were shut out on five hits Saturday against Fresno State. They had four hits and five runs – two on a mammoth homer by catcher Logan Gelbrich – by the second inning last night against Bulldogs starter Justin Miller (6-3).

By the end, the Toreros had 13 hits. The first three hitters in the lineup reached base 15 times. Leadoff hitter Kevin Muno scored five runs. Teammate Josh Romanski had four hits and Meador drove in four runs.

“I don't want to say they've had our number, but it's a battle every time with these guys,” said Romanski, who in the second inning made an outstanding diving catch on the warning track in center. “It's rewarding to force a second game. We're going to come out playing hard.”

Kirk Kenney: (619) 293-1825; kirk.kenney@uniontrib.com