May 8, 1999
SAN DIEGO - A furious San Diego State comeback fell just short on Saturday as the Hawaii Rainbows defeated San Diego State, 11-10, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The loss improved Hawaiis season record to 34-18 (13-14 WAC) while the Aztecs fell to 27-29 (14-13 WAC).
The Rainbows used a seven-run third inning to help fashion an 11-1 lead over SDSU going to the bottom of the fifth. But a single run in the fifth for SDSU plus five more in the seventh narrowed the gap to 11-7.
The comeback continued when frehsman Sean Pierce slammed a three-run homer over the left field fence in the eighth, but the Aztecs couldnt muster another run as Rainbow reliever Wakon Childers shut them down over the final 1.2 innings.
Junior Ben Nelson (0-4) started for the Aztecs and was roughed up for eight runs before departing after three innings. David Caron did the bulk of the relief work, allowing just one hit and striking out four in his 4.1 innings of work. UHs starter, Jamie Aloy, picked up his seventh win against six losses while Childers grabbed his fourth save of the year.
No Aztec had more than one hit on the day although Bill Montgomery and Javier Ramos each knocked in a pair of runs.
The Aztecs conclude the regular season with a three-game set at San Jose State next weekend (May 13-15) as they try to secure one of the six spots at the 1999 WAC Tournament to be held in Fresno May 19-22. SDSU currently sits in fifth place and is one of seven teams vying for the final four berths at the conference tourney.
Hawaii 11, San Diego State 10UH 017 210 000 - 11 13 3SDSU 010 010 530 - 10 8 2Aloy, Ho (7), Childers (8) and WakakuwaNelson, Garber (3), Caron (5), Samadani (9) and RogersW - Aloy (7-6)L - Nelson (0-4)Sv - Childers (4)HR - SDSU: Pierce (8th-two on)Time - 3:18Att - 439