Feb. 1, 2002
Hilo, Hawaii - The San Diego State Aztecs overcame their opening-night jitters of Thursday and played a solid game in all aspects as they defeated Hawaii-Hilo, 10-0, Friday evening at Francis Wong Stadium in Hilo. The win evened SDSU's record at 1-1 while the Vulcans fell to 1-11-1.
After being effectively shut down the previous night, the Aztec offense came alive, pounding out 16 hits including four doubles and a home run. Defensively, SDSU was perfect in the field after committing three errors in the season opener.
Four Aztec pitchers scattered seven hits and struck out 10 in posting the shutout. Starter Rory Shortell went six innings, allowing five hits and striking out five to pick up the win. After Chris Hartshorn and freshman Jeff Teasley worked an inning apiece, preseason All-American Royce Ring closed out the contest by striking out the side in the ninth.
After three scoreless innings to start the game, SDSU opened the scoring in the fourth with a three-run rally keyed by Brian Manfred's two-run double that scored Josh Allen and Josh Stephens, who had reached on a double and single respectively. The double was the first of three Manfred hits on the night as he finished the game with four runs batted in.
After adding two in the fourth on RBI singles by Allen and Manfred, third baseman Chad Corona put an emphasis on the Aztec's offensive night with a two run homer deep to left center field in the sixth. SDSU put its final three runs on the board in the eight on a two-run double by Josh Hill and Manfred's third hit of the night.
In addition to Manfred, the Aztecs also got three hits apiece from second baseman Carlo Cota and first baseman Jon Stephens. After two games, Cota is 5-for-8 with a double, RBI and run scored.
The Aztecs and Vulcans continue their five-game series on Saturday (Feb. 2) with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. local time in Hilo. The opener will be a seven-inning contest followed by a nine-inning nightcap. Both games can be heard live on the Internet with Alan Horton calling the play-by-play beginning at 3:00p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
San Diego State 10, Hawaii-Hilo 0SDS 000 322 030 - 10 16 0UHH 000 000 000 - 0 7 2Shortell, Hartshorn (7), Teasley (8), Ring (9) and Manfred, Wilson (8)Watts, Miyahira (5), Correa (7), Nagata (8), and Sooto, Watanabe (6)W - Shortell (1-0)L - Watts (0-4)Sv - NoneHR - SDS: Corona (6th-one on)Att. - 225