March 5, 1999
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State's Aaron Harang pitched seven strong innings and first baseman Chad Chop drove in a pair during a four-run seventh as the Aztecs took the conference-opener for both teams with a 6-3 win Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory, San Diego State improved to 11-9 while Utah fell to 10-8.
"You never know what to expect from the first league game. I thought we were a little tight," said SDSU head coach Jim Dietz. "We don't have any easy games this year, I'm very pleased to get that first WAC win."
San Diego State broke a 2-2 tie with a two-out, seventh inning single by Chop off Utah reliever Jared Cavaness (1-1). Chop scored on a RBI triple by third baseman Edgar Gonzalez. Gonzalez scored on a throwing error by Ute shortstop Jake Shortino.
SDSU scored its first run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Matt Ricardy. Ricardy drove in a run on a single in the sixth inning tying the game at 2-2.
Utah got on the board first courtesy of a sacrifice fly by second baseman Adam Castleton in the top of the third. Shortino doubled home catcher Jared Larsen with one out in the fifth inning to give the Utes a 2-1 lead.
Harang (2-1) struck out eight and walked four in seven innings. Jeff Dufek pitched the final two innings for the Aztecs, allowing one run on a pair of hits.
The three-game series continues Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
San Diego State 6, Utah 3 Utah 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 -- 3 7 2SDSU 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 0 x -- 6 11 0
Harang, Dufek (8), and Rogers
Page, Cavaness (7), and Larsen.
W: Harang (2-1)
L: Cavaness (1-1)