April 22, 2001
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team moved into sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference standings by taking both ends of a doubleheader from New Mexico on Sunday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Aztecs rallied from a 7-1 deficit in the first game to win, 8-7, and cruised to a 13-5 victory in game two. SDSU's two wins on Sunday completed the weekend sweep of UNM and improved the Aztecs' record to 26-17 on the year and 15-6 in conference. The Lobos fell to 18-29 and 8-13.
Game one was by far the more exciting of the two, as UNM raced out to a 7-1 lead after four innings of play. SDSU chipped its way back into the game, scoring a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, then adding two more in the eighth. Trailing, 7-6, going into the ninth, the Aztecs loaded the bases with no out. SDSU pinch hitter Rielly Embrey then hit a grounder to the left side that looked like it was going to be the game-winner. However, Lobo shortstop Dusty Young made a full-extension dive and kept the ball on the infield.
Although Aztec second baseman Carlo Cota came in to score from third base, Young got up in time to catch SDSU right fielder Sean Pierce in a rundown after Pierce rounded third thinking the ball had made its way into left field. Pierce was called out for grabbing hold of Aztec head coach Jim Dietz in the third base coaching box to try and stop his momentum.
After the dust had settled on that play, SDSU found itself with runners on first and second with the score tied and one out. UNM closer Jeff Perez then struck out Aztec center fielder Chad Redfern to bring the Lobos within one out of sending the game into extra innings. However, after SDSU pinch runner Erik Fiedler stole third, Aztec third baseman Garrett Cook drove him in with the game-winner on a difficult ground ball that UNM third baseman Aaron Stanley was unable to short-hop.
Although SDSU was able to cruise through the second half of the doubleheader powered by a 5-for-5 performance by first baseman Cody Haven in which he doubled, stole a base, blasted his second home run of the week and drove in four runs, the biggest story of that game was that Chad Redfern broke his forearm after making a sensational diving play in short center field to end the top half of the fifth inning.
Redfern was immediately taken to the hospital and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Aztecs will return to action at 6 p.m. on Tuesday when they host the University of San Diego at Tony Gwynn Stadium.