March 11, 2000
San Diego - The University of Utah scored four runs in the ninth inning to overcome a three-run deficit and defeat San Diego by a score of 7-6 on Saturday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win, Utah improved to 8-13 and evened its Mountain west Conference record at 1-1. The Aztecs, meanwhile, fell to 12-12 (1-1 MWC).
The big blow in the ninth was a one-out bases loaded triple by Ute shortstop Rob Stuart that cleared the bases and tied the game at 6-6. Left fielder Donnie Saba then singled off SDSU reliever Rory Shortell to score Stuart with the winning run.
Shortell, who came into the game in relief of Royce Ring in the ninth with two on and one out, walked catcher Donald Hawes to lad the bases, That set the stage for Stuart's heroics. It was Shortell's first loss of the season as his record fell to 2-1. Aztec starter Jeremy Cook struck out eight in his seven innings of work, but was not involved in the decision.
The Aztecs took the lead in the bottom of the first on Paul Lockhart's two-run homer, and they led throughout until the ninth. Clinging to a 4-3 advantage, SDSU got a two-run hoe run from Edgar Gonzalez off Ute relief ace Mitch Maio in the eighth to extend that lead to 6-3. Despite giving up the homer, Maio finished the game and record his second win of the season.
In addition to the long balls by Lockhart and Gonzalez, center fielder Billy Montgomery led the Aztec attack, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and one run scored.
The two teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday, March 12, with a 2:00 p.m. start scheduled for Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Utah 7, San Diego State 6Utah 110 001 004 - 7 6 1SDSU 300 010 020 - 6 10 2Cavaness, Maio (8) and France, Hawes (7)Cook, Ring (8), Shortell (9) and Rogers.W - Maio (2-0)L - Shortell (2-1)SV - NoneHR - Utah: Castleton (2nd-none on) Swenson (6th-none on) SDSU: Lockhart (1st-one on) Gonzalez (8th-one on)Att - 338