May 16, 1999
San Diego State dropped the third game of its three-game series with San Jose State, 8-5, in San Jose on Saturday afternoon. The loss ended the Aztecs' 1999 season as they finished with a record of 27-32 (14-16 WAC). The team was eliminated from contention for a berth in next week's WAC Tournament as well. San Jose State improved to 28-24-1 (16-11 WAC).
The Aztecs jumped on San Jose starter Jeremy Rogelstad for a pair of runs in the top of the first on a two-RBI double by Tyler Echelbarger. After the Spartans answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, the Aztecs increased their lead to 3-1 on a Billy Montgomery double in the second.
From there, things fell apart for the Aztecs as San Jose rallied for six runs in the bottom of the second to take a lead it never relinquished. Senior A.J. Samadani came on in relief of starter David Caron (3-4) to end the rally, but it was too late. Samadani threw the final 6.2 innings, allowing just three hits and one unearned run while striking out six.
The Aztecs fought back with a two-run homer from Echelbarger in the fifth, but it was not enough to overcome the Spartans. Echelbarger finished the day going 3-for-5 with four runs batted in.
San Diego State finishes its season with a losing record for the first time since 1993 and only the fourth time in head coach Jim Dietz's 28 years at SDSU.
San Jose State 8, San Diego State 5SDSU 210 020 000 - 5 11 2SJSU 160 000 01x - 8 11 0Caron, Samadani (2) and RogersRogelstad, Key (5), Sherman (8) and WrightW - Key (2-1)L - Caron (3-4)Sv - Sherman (3)HR - SDSU: Echelbarger (5th-two on); SJSU: Tognetti (2nd-two on)Time - 2:37Att - 483