May 2, 2000
SAN DIEGO - A seven-run sixth inning propelled 19th-ranked Cal State Fullerton to an 11-7 win over the San Diego State baseball team on Tuesday in Fullerton.
The game was tight early, with the two teams tied at three after five innings. SDSU starter Ben Julianel had seven strikeouts entering the sixth inning and was keeping the Titans off balance with a steady diet of off-speed pitches. However, Julianel gave up a leadoff single to catcher Jeff Gates and then walked left fielder Steve Woodward to start the sixth inning. Julianel was then taken out of the game, and things went south for the Aztecs (26-25 overall).
The SDSU bullpen was unable to keep Cal State Fullerton (28-15 overall) at bay, as relievers John Skinner, Mike Garber and Jon Minter combined to give up six runs (four earned) over the next two innings.
Trailing, 11-3 after seven innings, the Aztecs put together a rally in the eighth. After Titan reliever Jake Moon walked second baseman Matt Ricardy and catcher Brandon Rogers to start the inning, he was lifted in favor of Mike Nunez. SDSU shortstop Edgar Gonzalez promptly greeted Nunez with a double that scored Ricardy. After Nunez struck out Billy Montgomery and Andy Litteral, Taber Lee singled to center, scoring Rogers and Gonzalez. Cal State Fullerton center fielder Chris Stringfellow let the ball roll past him, allowing Lee to take second and head for third. Titan right fielder Robert Guzman overthrew third baseman Shawn Norris in an attempt to get Lee at third, and when the ball rolled into the Cal State Fullerton dugout, Lee was awarded home.
Nunez would settle down, however, holding the Aztecs scoreless for the final 1 1/3 innings and sealing the win.
Ricardy led the SDSU offensive charge, going 2-for-4 with a double, while reliever Erick Eigenhuis pitched a perfect eighth inning in relief for State.
The Aztecs return to Mountain West Conference action when they travel to Provo, Utah for a three-game series with Brigham Young beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday. SDSU took two out of three from the Cougars when the two teams met at Tony Gwynn Stadium earlier this year.
San Diego State 010 020 040 - 7 9 2Cal State Fullerton 020 107 10X - 11 14 4
SDSU - Julianel, Skinner (6), Garber (6), Jon Minter (7), Eigenhuis (8) and RogersCSUF - Corona, Carralejo (5), Moon (7), Nunez(8) and Gates, Patterson
Win - Carralejo (2-1)Loss - Julianel (3-3)Save - None
Left On Base - SDSU-10, CSUF-5
2B - SDSU-Ricardy, Gonzalez, CSUF-Stringfellow3B - CSUF-MartinezHR - CSUF-Weller (1)
SB - SDSU-Lee, Pierce, Rogers, CSUF-Guzman
Attendance - 471