March 14, 2000
LOS ANGELES - The San Diego State baseball team squandered a 6-1 lead and eventually fell to UCLA, 7-6 on Tuesday in the fog in Los Angeles.
The Aztecs (13-13 overall, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) jumped on the Bruins (10-10 overall) early, scoring two runs in the first and four in the third, but were held scoreless for the final six innings by UCLA relievers Mike Kunes and Ryan Carter. SDSU designated hitter Ben Leuthard blasted a three-run home run well over the left field fence and center fielder Billy Montgomery continued his hot streak, going 2-for-5 with a double and a stolen base, but it was not enough to hold off the Bruins, who scored four runs in the final four innings to claim the win.
Freshman left-hander Royce Ring took the loss for the Aztecs, falling to 1-2 on the year, while Carter improved to 1-0 with the win for UCLA.
With the score deadlocked at six in the bottom of the eighth, Ring hit Bruin shortstop Josh Canales with a pitch. UCLA second baseman Chase Utley then doubled to right, advancing Canales to second. After SDSU pitching coach Rusty Filter pulled Ring in favor of Jon Minter, Bruin third baseman Randall Shelley smoked a line drive directly into the glove of Aztec shortstop Rory Shortell. With one out and runners on second and third and the SDSU infield pulled in, UCLA left fielder Bill Scott singled past Shortell and into left field, scoring Canales and giving the Bruins the win.
The Aztecs return to action when they travel to Albuquerque, N.M. to take on MWC foe New Mexico in a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday.
SDSU 204 000 000 - 6 7 0UCLA 102 012 01 - 7 11 2
Win - Ryan Carter (1-0)Loss - Royce Ring (1-2)Save - None
E - Utley, AtkinsLOB - SDSU (6), UCLA (12)2B - Montgomery, Leuthard, Utley, ScottHR - Leuthard (1)SB - Montgomery, Lockhart, Gonzalez, UtleySH - Litteral, Gonzalez
Att - 202