April 8, 2001
San Diego - San Diego State rallied for six runs in the final two innings to defeat Air Force, 9-5, Sunday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
The win allowed the Aztecs (21-14 overall) to move into a tie with Brigham Young for first place in the Mountain West Conference standings at 10-5. With the loss, Air Force fell to 18-19 on the season and 5-10 in league play.
SDSU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a solo home run by Andy Litteral and singles by Rielly Embrey, Sean Pierce and Pilar Amaya. Air Force missed an opportunity to come right back in the bottom of the inning as it loaded the bases with no outs. However, Aztec hurler Rory Shortell got a strikeout and double play ground ball to escape the inning unscathed.
Shortell, who had started Friday's game that was suspended after two innings due to rain, went seven innings to pick up the win and improve his record to 5-1. He allowed five runs (three earned) and struck out five. Sophomore relief ace Royce Ring threw the final two innings for the Aztecs, striking out five to record his seventh save of the year.
After falling behind 5-3 after seven innings, San Diego State rallied for four runs in the eighth on two hits and three Air Force errors to take a 7-5 lead. Pierce walked to lead off the inning, and Amaya followed with an infield single. Pinch hitter Darrell Bowles hit a fly ball that center fielder Mike Thiessen lost in the sun. It went for a single and scored Pierce from second. Chad Redfern then attempted to sacrifice the runners, but Falcon Dan Petro was called for catcher's interference to load the bases with no outs.
Carlo Cota then hit a ball that got through Air Force second baseman Brian LaBasco for an error as Amaya and Bowles came home. Brian Manfred then grounded out to the pitcher with Redfern scoring the fourth run of the inning.
In the ninth, the Aztecs got back-to-back solo home runs from Embrey and Pierce to wrap up the scoring.
Up next for the Aztecs is a meeting with UCLA on Tuesday (Apr. 10) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. They resume conference action at home next weekend when they host UNLV for a three-game series beginning Friday (Apr. 13) at 6:00 p.m.
San Diego State 9, San Diego State 5SDSU 300 000 042 - 9 12 3AFA 001 310 000 - 5 9 4Shortell, Ring (8) and ManfredTufte, Fisher (8) and PetroW - Shortell (5-1)L - Tufte (6-5)Sv - Ring (7)HR - SDSU: Litteral (1), Embrey (1), Pierce (4)Time - 2:44Att. - 124