March 12, 2000
Paul Lockhart's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth negated a second Utah comeback in as many days as the Aztecs defeated the Utes, 8-6, on Sunday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Lockhart's heroics were made necessary when Utah erased a 6-3 Aztec lead with three runs in the top of the ninth inning. With two out and nobody on, a walk and two singles lorded the bases, and Utah's Mike Goff doubled off the left field fence to tie the game. It was the second consecutive day of ninth-inning heroics for Utah who tallied four times in Saturday's game to pull out a 7-6 win.
San Diego State's ninth started with a single by leftfielder Andy Litteral. Lockhart then hit a 2-1 pitch just to the right of dead center field to win the game. It was his fifth homer of the season and upped his team-leading RBI total to 20.
SDSU jumped out to a four-run lead in the second inning, capped off by freshman Rory Shortell's home run, a two-run blast to left field. The teams then traded runs in the sixth and seventh, and the Utes added one in the eighth to make the score 6-3 going into the final frame.
Litteral and second baseman Matt Ricardy both had three hits and two runs scored on the day. All three of Ricardy's hits were doubles , and tied the Aztec record for two-baggers in a game.
Soph Chris Dunwell started on the mound for the Aztecs, pitching two scoreless innings before giving way to junior Ben Julianel. The junior from San Mateo JC struck out seven in his 6.2 innings of work, but was relieved to freshman Chris Hartshorn in the ninth after giving up the tying runs. Hartshorn retired the lone batter he faced and pick up the win to improve his season mark to 2-1. Utah reliever Matt McAfee (0-1) took the loss.
With the win, SDSU's season record moves to 13-12 on the season overall and 2-1 in the Mountain West Conference. After the opening weekend of league play, SDSU finds itself in third place as BYU swept a three-game series at UNLV and New Mexico defeated Air Force twice with the third game of that set postponed due to snow in Colorado Springs.
After a mid-week Tuesday, March 14) trip for a game at UCLA, the Aztecs resume play next weekend with a three-game series against New Mexico in Albuquerque. SDSU then returns home on Tuesday, March 21, to take on crosstown rival University of San Diego at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 8, Utah 6Utah 000 001 113 - 6 11 1SDSU 040 001 102 - 8 11 2Bailey, Lewis (6), McAfee (7) and HawesDunwell, Julianel (3), Hartshorn (9) and RogersW - Hartshorn (2-1)L - McAfee (0-1)SV - NoneHR - SDSU: Shortell (2nd-one on) Lockhart (9th-one on)Att - 508