Feb. 4, 2001
Yuma, Ariz. - A four-run fifth inning propelled the San Diego State baseball team to a 5-3 win over The Citadel on Sunday in the Caballero Classic at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Ariz.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Rob Harrand held the 27th-ranked Bulldogs to only one unearned run through five innings to pick up the win in his first appearance at the collegiate level. Senior right-hander John Skinner and sophomore lefty Royce Ring came on to pitch four innings of three-hit ball in relief. Skinner and Ring allowed only two runs (one earned), with Ring picking up his first save of the season.
With the game deadlocked at one in the top of the fourth, SDSU head coach Jim Dietz was ejected for arguing with umpire Robert Francesciello. Dietz protested a call after Aztec shortstop Taber Lee was taken out by a baserunner at second base while trying to turn a double play. The hard slide kept Lee from making the throw to first.
Dietz' ejection lit a fire under an SDSU team that was struggling for offense throughout the weekend. Just one inning after his dispute, the Aztecs pulled together and exploded for four runs, putting the game away.
Junior second baseman Carlo Cota led the offensive charge for SDSU (1-3 overall), going 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and two stolen bases. Cota and junior designated hitter Cody Haven were both named to the all-Caballero Classic team. During the Aztecs' three games in Yuma, Cota went 4-for-10, while Haven went 3-for-7 (.429 avg.) with an RBI.
SDSU returns to action at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9, when it hosts Houston for a three-game series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
FinalThe Citadel-3SDSU- 5
The Citadel - 010 000 020 - 3 9 2
SDSU - 100 040 00x - 5 6 2
Winner-Harrand (1-0)
Loser-Fulmer (0-1)
Save-Ring (1)