March 30, 2001
SAN DIEGO - Yet another late-inning rally from the San Diego State baseball team helped the Aztecs pick up a 5-3 win over Utah on Friday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. In so doing, SDSU moved into a tie atop the Mountain West Conference standings with the Utes.
Trailing, 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh and one out, shortstop Ryan Wilson got things going for SDSU (17-12 overall, 6-4 MWC) by getting walked. Aztec catcher Brian Manfred then roped a triple down the left field line to tie the game. SDSU was not able to score Manfred in the seventh, but the Aztecs came right back in the eighth.
Second baseman Carlo Cota opened the inning with a double to left, and after a pair of strikeouts and a wild pitch from Utah pitcher Mitch Maio, Cota found himself on third base with two outs. Third baseman Pilar Amaya drove in Cota with what amounted to the game-winning run. A single later in the inning from Wilson drove in Amaya with the insurance run.
SDSU reliever Mike Moat picked up his first collegiate win by holding the Utes (17-14, 6-4 MWC) hitless and without a run for two innings. Closer Royce Ring came on to strike out two in a scoreless ninth to claim his Mountain West Conference-leading fifth save. Aztec starter Rory Shortell fanned a season-high nine batters in six innings.
Maio suffered his first loss of the year, dropping to 2-1.
SDSU and Utah will meet again at 6 p.m. tomorrow night at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
SDSU-5, Utah-3
Utah 200 010 000 - 3 8 1SDSU 000 020 12x - 5 8 1
Win-Moat (1-0), Loss-Maio (2-1), Save-Ring (5)
Doubles-Saba, Shelton, Cota, RedfernTriples-ManfredHome Runs-none