Feb. 24, 2002
Yuma, Ariz. - San Diego State raced out to a 10-run lead and went on to defeat Nevada, 13-7, in a game played Saturday night at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma. The win avenged Friday night's 10-1 loss at the hands of the Wolf Pack and ended a string of six straight losses to Nevada that dated back to 1990. With the win, San Diego State improved to 9-5 on the season while Nevada fell below the .500 mark at 5-6.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first thanks to the generosity of their guests. Anthony Gwynn led off the contest with a walk, advanced to third after a pickoff throw by Nevada starter Mateo Miramontes got by first baseman JaRell McIntyre, and scored on a wild pitch.
SDSU increased its lead with six runs on six hits in the third inning as it sent 11 batters to the plate. Shortstop Taber Lee had two singles and one run batted in during the uprising. Lee finished his night going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored before being replaced in the seventh inning.
The Aztecs upped their lead to 10-0 with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before Nevada answered with a pair of its own on a two-run homer by Jeff Tolotti in the sixth. Not to be outdone, SDSU came back in its half of the fifth with a solo home run from Chad Corona, his fourth of the season and first since the season-opening series at Hawaii Hilo.
The Wolf Pack made the game interesting by scoring five runs over the seventh and eighth innings to close the gap to 11-7, but San Diego State closed out the scoring in their half of the eighth on a two-out two-run double by catcher Josh Allen.
Aztec pitcher Rory Shortell (3-1) picked up the win, going seven innings and striking out seven. The junior from Portland started strong, but tired over the latter innings and gave way to senior Erik Fiedler, who recorded his first save of the year. Nevada's Mateo Miramontes, who lasted four innings, saw his record fall to 1-2 on the season.
All nine offensive starters finished the game with at least one hit. In addition to Lee, first baseman Jon Stephens also had three hits (3-for-5, 2 runs, 1 RBI) while Carlo Cota, Jake McLintock and Josh Allen had two apiece.
The rubber game of the series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST) on Sunday at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma. Right-hander Joe Carque (1-0, 2.92) is slated to start on for San Diego State with James Holcomb (0-0, 3.86) expected to get the nod for the Wolf Pack. The game can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com beginning with the pre-game show at approximately 11:50 a.m. Pacific Time.
San Diego State 13, Nevada 7NEV 000 002 320 - 7 11 2SDS 106 121 02x - 13 17 0Miramontes, Woods (5), Leake (6), Moran (8) and Markel, Gimenez (8)Shortell, Hartshorn (8), Fiedler (8) and AllenW - Shortell (3-1)L - Miramontes (1-2)Sv - Fiedler (1)HR - NEV: Tolotti (6th-one on) SDS: Corona (6th-none on)Att. - 328Time - 3:11