May 17, 2000
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team opened up play in the Mountain West Conference tournament with a dramatic 7-6 come-from-behind win over host UNLV on Thursday.
The second-seeded Aztecs, who were only able to muster two unearned runs on four hits against Rebel starter Ryan Olson through the first eight innings, exploded to score five runs in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the win.
Trailing, 6-2 going into the bottom of the ninth, SDSU right fielder Paul Lockhart reached first on an error by UNLV shortstop Zach Strong. Rebel head coach Rod Soesbe then elected to replace Olson and bring on the MWC's top closer, Andy McCulloch. McCulloch, who blanked the Aztecs at Tony Gwynn Stadium last Sunday en route to collecting his ninth save of the year, was not as effective on Thursday. He walked the first batter he faced, SDSU catcher Brandon Rogers. With two on and no one out, Aztec head coach Jim Dietz elected to bring speedster Sean Pierce in to pinch run for Rogers.
Both Pierce and Lockhart advanced when first baseman Chad Chop grounded to first. A single to left by center fielder Chad Redfern drove in Lockhart and moved Pierce to third. After shortstop Taber Lee struck out looking and left fielder Billy Montgomery walked, things got interesting for SDSU.
Trailing, 6-3 with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, second baseman Carlo Cota banged a single to right, driving in Pierce. McCulloch then walked third baseman Edgar Gonzalez, scoring Redfern and cutting the Rebel lead to 6-5. That would set the stage for designated hitter Jacob Minter.
Minter, who was hitless in four at-bats going into the ninth, singled to center field, scoring Montgomery and Cota and giving the Aztecs a much-needed first-round win.
SDSU left-hander Ben Julianel started the game, allowing three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings of work, however, it was freshman lefty Royce Ring who picked up the win for the Aztecs, limiting the fifth-seeded Rebels to one run in three innings of relief.
SDSU had lost five of six games to UNLV during the regular season.
The Aztecs will take on BYU tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. The third-seeded Cougars picked up a 9-6 win over Utah earlier in the day. SDSU took four out of six games from the BYU during the regular season.
Final#5 UNLV - 001 200 210 - 6 9 3#2 SDSU - 010 000 105 - 7 7 1
UNLV - Olson, McCulloch (9) and Betts, SDSU - Julianel, Skinner (6), Ring (7) and Rogers
Win - Ring (2-2)Loss - McCulloch (1-4)Save - None
HR - UNLV - Kitsch (13), Betts (6), SDSU - none
Attendance - 360