May 18, 2001
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball squad got off the deck with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Utah, 5-4, Friday afternoon in the Mountain West Conference baseball tournament.
The game marked San Diego State's 20th come-from-behind win of the season, and the 12th in which the Aztecs won the game in their last at bat. It also kept SDSU alive in the double elimination MWC bracket.
With the win, San Diego State advances to Saturday's 3 p.m. contest against New Mexico, the tournament's lone unbeaten team. The Lobos were scheduled to play Brigham Young Friday night. A second Saturday game, if needed, would be played at 7 p.m.
San Diego State trailed, 4-1, entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Thanks to three walks by Utah pitchers, SDSU had the bases loaded with no one out. Brian Manfred scored when he was walked home and Taber Lee scored on a wild pitch to get the Aztecs within 4-3.
In the dramatic ninth inning, Lee started the rally with a single to left field. Freshman Anthony Gwynn then followed with a hit-and-run single, putting runners on the corners with no one out. Following a strikeout and a stolen base by Gwynn, Carlo Cota drove home Lee with the tying run on a sacrifice fly.
The rally was complete when left fielder Ben Leuthard singled to center, scoring Gwynn. Leuthard and Lee combined for four of SDSU's eight hits.
The Aztecs improved to 33-25 while Utah closed the season at 27-29.
On Saturday, San Diego State could advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1991.
Utah 003 010 000 - 4-8-0
SDSU 010 000 202 - 5-8-2
Winner -Ring (6-2), Loser - Maio (2-2) Home Runs - Utah: Shelton (19)