March 10, 2000
San Diego - San Diego State opened its inaugural Mountain West Conference season in style with a 20-1 victory over the University of Utah on Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego. Not only did the win get SDSU off to a 1-0 start in league play, it put the team over the .500 mark at 12-11. The Utes, meanwhile fell to 7-13 on the season.
Junior John Skinner, making his first start as an Aztec, went seven innings and struck out nine to pick up his first win of the year. Utah's David Ebright, a local San Diego product out of Carlsbad High and Palomar JC, took the loss. Eight Ute errors contributed to the SDSU win with 12 of the runs allowed by Utah pitchers being unearned.
The Aztec scored early and often, opening the contest with an eight-run first inning. Six more runs in the third made the victory more secure, and the Aztecs added a five spot in the sixth. Utah's lone run came on a solo homer by Nate Weese in the ninth.
Centefielder Billy Montgomery was just one of the SDSU hitters to enjoy Utah pitching, going 4-for-4 on the night with a double and three runs scored. Catcher Brandon Rogers connected for his fifth homer of the year, a two-run shot in the third, and also added a single and double while driving in five runs on the night. Second baseman Matt Ricardy hit his first home run of the season, also a two-run blast that came in the third inning.
The three-game series between the Aztecs and Utes continues on Saturday, March 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 20, Utah 1Utah 000 000 001 - 1 7 8SDSU 806 005 01x - 20 22 1Heusser (5), Maestas (6), Shortino (8) and HawesSkinner, Eigenhuis (8) and Rogers, Minter (8)W - Skinner (1-4)L - Ebright (2-5)SV - NoneHR - Utah: Weese (9th-none on) SDSU: Ricardy (3rd-one on) Rogers (3rd-one on)Att - 283