Jan. 12, 2002
Gold Coast, Australia - Taber Lee and Carlo Cota drove in two runs apiece to key the Aztec offense as SDSU defeated Queensland, 5-2, in the opening contest of San Diego States 10-game tour of Australia. The game began in 100-degree, humid conditions and finished with the temperature in the low 90s.
Lee, the Aztec's leadoff hitter, greeted Queensland starter Paul Stockman's second pitch of the game with a deep fly ball that bounced off the base of the center field wall and went for a triple. Cota then stepped up and brought Lee home with a sacrifice fly to left to give SDSU a quick 1-0 lead.
Queensland evened the score in the second on a two-out single by left fielder Scott Dickensen that scored catcher Mitch Evans from second base. However, the Aztecs regained the lead for good when Lee hit a solo home run in the third, another shot to center that cleared the 400-foot mark.
As for his sudden power surge, Lee commented, "I've been working hard in the weight room since last season and things just clicked with my swing today. I got some good pitches to hit and was able to take advantage of them."
SDSU increased its lead with a three-run fifth inning that began with a leadoff homer from sophomore third baseman Chad Corona. Singles by Josh Allen and Anthony Gwynn, sandwiched around a sac bunt by Jake McLintock, led to an RBI sac fly from Lee and a run-scoring single from Cota.
Juniors Chris Dunwell and Eric Human shared the pitching duties, with Dunwell going the first 4.1 innings before tiring. He allowed one earned run on four hits, struck out five and walked four.
"Today was probably the hottest and definitely the most humid weather I've ever pitched in," said Dunwell. "I may have thrown too much in warm-ups because my legs got tired after a few innings. I started missing locations and got in trouble with a couple of walks.
Human, a transfer from Palomar Junior College, tossed the final 4.2 innings to pick up the win. His only mistake "was a solo home run by Queensland's Adam Wardrop in the sixth.
"I wasn't nervous even though it was my first appearance for San Diego State," commented Human. "I feel like the coaches have faith in me and that gives me some confidence. The weather was a factor for us out there. I was getting tired physically toward the end, but I felt like I was getting stronger mentally. This was one of my best days for hitting spots in certain situations."
San Diego State and Queensland's six-game series continues Sunday evening when the teams meet in a doubleheader (two seven-inning contests) at the Windsor Baseball Club facility in Brisbane at 6:00 p.m. Both games of the twin bill will be broadcast live on the internet at www.goaztecs.com with the first game beginning at 12:00 a.m. Sunday (Pacific Standard Time) in San Diego.
San Diego State 5, Queensland 2 R H ESDS 101 030 000 - 5 7 2QLD 010 001 000 - 2 8 1Dunwell, Human (5) and Allen, Manfred (6)Stockman, Kearny (5), Haynes (9) and EvansW - HumanL - StockmanSv - NoneHR: SDS - Lee (3rd-none on), Corona (5th-none on) QLD - Wardrop (6th-none on)Att: - 137