Feb. 8, 2002
Tucson - Arizona broke a 2-2 deadlock with three runs in the sixth inning and went on to defeat San Diego State, 6-3, at Frank Sancet Field in Tucson Friday afternoon. It was the Wildcats' second win in the three-game series and moved their record to 9-1 on the season. With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 5-3.
Arizona starting pitcher Joe Little (3-0) picked up his third win of the season, going seven innings and allowing two runs on four hits while striking out 10. SDSU's Rory Shortell evened his record at 1-1, giving up five earned runs and striking out six over 5.2 innings of work.
The Aztecs took a short-lived lead in the second inning when Chad Corona singled to left, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored on an RBI single by Chad Redfern. Arizona responded with a pair of runs in the third on a two-run homer by right fielder Jeff Van Houten.
San Diego State drew even in the fifth inning as Carlo Cota's two-out double scored Brian Manfred, who had singled and stolen second base to open the inning. However, Shortell ran into trouble in the sixth as Arizona struck for three runs with a hit batter and a single, double and triple.
The Wildcats added a run in the seventh before San Diego State finished the scoring in the final frame as Josh Hill singled home Landon Burt from third with two outs. Burt had come on to run for first baseman Jon Stephens, who had singled earlier in the inning.
SDSU and Arizona conclude their three-game set on Saturday (Feb. 9) in Tucson with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (MST). That contest may be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com starting at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Arizona 6, San Diego State 3SDS 010 010 001 - 3 6 1UA 002 003 10x - 6 8 1Shortell, Fiedler (6), Harang (7), Harrand (9) and ManfredLittle, Zlotoff (8) and RileyW - Little (3-0)L - Shortell (1-1)Sv - NoneHR - UA: Van Houten (3rd-two on)Att. - 1,087Time - 2:46