May 20, 2000
LAS VEGAS - A seven-run, nine-hit third inning was the difference as San Diego State captured the very first Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship with a 9-4 victory over Air Force at Earl E. Wilson Stadium on Saturday.
The Aztecs (34-28) scored in only two innings of Saturday's game, but exploded in the third after falling behind 2-0. SDSU collected five straight hits to begin the inning and had taken a 4-2 lead before the first out was recorded. Paul Lockhart then slammed his 11th home run of the year, a two-run shot which put SDSU up 6-2.
With a 7-2 edge, Aztec starter Rory Shortell cruised. He completed eight innings, scattering nine hits and giving up just two earned runs to improve to 6-6 on the year. Air Force starter Matt Kaercher gave up six of the seven runs in the third and suffered the loss, going 6-10 on the year.
Matt Ricardy went 5-for-5 on the day, driving in two runs and making countless plays on defense to lead the Aztecs' title run. San Diego State captured its first conference title since 1991 with today's win and its fourth overall.
All-Tournament Team
Chad Redfern, OF, San Diego State
Gerremy Goldsberry, OF, Air Force
Mike Thiessen, OF, Air Force
Matt Carson, OF, BYU
Billy Montgomery, OF, San Diego State
Michael Tufte, RHP, Air Force
Michael Davis, C, BYU
Mark Okano, OF, New Mexico
Ryan Olson, LHP, UNLV
Designated Hitter-Chris Humphrey, Air Force
Relief Pitcher - Chris Dunwell, San Diego State
MVP-Chad Redfern, San Diego State