Feb. 26, 2000
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team used solid pitching and some timely hitting to sweep a doubleheader from Washington State by scores of 5-4 and 6-3 at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Saturday.
With the two victories, SDSU improved to 10-7 on the season, and will look to make it a three-game sweep when the teams meet in the series finale on Sunday (February 27) at 2:00 p.m. The loss dropped the Cougars to 4-9 on the year.
In game one, the Aztecs broke a 3-3 deadlock with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, getting RBIs on a Tyler Echelbarger single and a safety squeeze by shortstop Edgar Gonzalez. Four Aztecs collected two hits apiece in the contest, a group that included Echelbarger, Andy Literal, Billy Montgomery and Garrett Cook.
Lefthander Royce Ring got the win for the Aztecs to even his record at 1-1. The freshman from nearby Monte Vista High pitched the final 4.1 innings, giving up just one hit while striking out six.
In game two, Washington State was staked to a 1-0 lead on a solo home run by third baseman Ray Hattenburg in the top of the fifth, but the lead was short-lived as the Aztecs came back with four in their half of the sixth inning. In that sixth inning, SDSU got RBIs from four different players including first baseman Chad Chop who doubled off the right field wall.
Rightander Chris Hartshorn (1-1), a freshman from Eden Prairie, Minn., picked up his first win, throwing seven innings and allowing one run while striking out six. Mike Garber threw one inning of relief while frosh Rory Shortell closed it out for the Aztecs in the ninth. Shortell, who started the game at third base, also had a pair of hits and two RBIs in the game.
Sunday's game between SDSU and Washington State can be heard live on the internet with KFMB's Alan Horton calling the play-by-play. To access the broadcast, go to the SDSU home page (www.goaztecs.com) and click on the "Live Events" icon on the left side of the screen.
Game 1San Diego State 5, Washington State 4WSU 011 010 010 - 4 7 5SDSU 210 020 00x - 5 8 2Meldahl, Niles (5) and SmithCook, Ring (5) and RogersW - Ring (1-1)L - Meldahl (1-3)SV - NoneHR: WSU - Nilsen (1), Smith (1)
Game 2San Diego State 6, Washington State 3WSU 000 010 002 - 3 6 2SDSU 000 004 02x - 6 11 1Hartshorn, Garber (8), Shortell (9) and RogersThompson, Fisher (6) and BodeW - Hartshorn (1-1)L - Thompson (1-2)SV - NoneHR - WSU: Hattenburg (1)Att. - 473