USD has seen more than enough of both the Bulldogs and their closer.

Fresno State had beaten the Toreros four straight times in the postseason play before USD's victory Sunday over the Bulldogs forced a rematch in last night's Long Beach Regional final.

Could the Toreros do it again? Not with Burke on the mound.

The senior from Rancho Bernardo High broke USD's hearts two years ago in the postseason. He did it again last night with the stakes even greater, closing out USD in Fresno State's 5-1 win at Blair Field.

While the Bulldogs (40-28) began planning for this weekend's Super Regional at Arizona State, the Toreros (44-16) were left to reflect on a bittersweet ending to the most successful season in school history.

“You don't want any of that to get lost,” said USD coach Rich Hill, who team set a school record for victories and reached a regional final for the first time. “The group of guys is spectacular. Our senior class going out, along with (juniors) Brian Matusz and Josh Romanski, really should be the stamp of USD baseball.

“They turned this thing around. They brought us to the national level. They got us to heights that were unimaginable 10 years ago. I think that's the real story of this year's team.”

Early on last night it appeared there were chapters still to be written.

Cheers and chants were exchanged for pins and needles as the innings unfolded and the tension mounted. Scoreless through four innings, a one-run game into the eighth, the contest could have turned on any pitch.

If finally did when Fresno State scored three times in the eighth inning to give some breathing room to a 2-1 lead.

The only people who could relax in their seats before that were Kevin and Anne Muno. They are the parents of USD sophomore left fielder Kevin Muno and Fresno State freshman shortstop Danny Muno, the teams' respective leadoff hitters.

The Munos knew they were going to this weekend's Super Regional at Arizona State regardless of the outcome of last night's game.

The only question was what they would be wearing – Fresno State's red or USD's blue?

It will be red.

“We had a good plan today and they executed it very well,” said Fresno State coach Mike Batesole.

Fresno State took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Gavin Hedstrom delivered a two-out, two-strike, two-run RBI single to right field off USD starter Sammy Solis.

With their seasons hanging in the balance, both teams went to their closers and career saves leaders in the sixth inning – A.J. Griffin for the Toreros and Burke for Fresno State.

Griffin struck out the first five hitters he faced, but ran into trouble in the eighth.

The Toreros never could get anything going against Burke, who allowed just one hit over the final 3 2/3 innings.

“We were pretty confident when we gave (Burke) the ball that was going to be it. He brought it home once again.”

It brings to a close the careers of USD senior starters Logan Gelbrich and Kevin Hansen as well as reliever Luke Roniger.

“When I came here the Toreros were winners, and we're winners now,” said Gelbrich. “The scale has gotten bigger. We weren't in the postseason our freshman year. . . . Now it's tradition.”

Along with the seniors, Matusz, Romanski and Ricardo Pecina, all junior left-handers, are expected to be lost to this week's major league draft. But the foundation for success is in place.

“This loss is going to be an open wound for a while,” said Hill. “When you get so close to something, then have it not manifest itself.  . .

“Like I said, it's going to be an open wound. But it will turn to a scar, then that scar will disappear and we'll move on.”