March 1, 2002
San Diego - San Diego State head coach Jim Dietz notched his 1200th career victory as the Aztecs defeated Southern Utah, 11-2, Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Dietz, in his 31st and final season heading up the SDSU baseball program, becomes the seventh active Division I coach and 12 all-time to reach the 1200-win plateau.
The victory pushed the Aztecs season record to 12-6 as nine different players had at least a hit apiece in the team's 11-hit attack. Southern Utah saw its season mark fall to 1-15.
Junior Chris Dunwell (1-2) picked up his first win of the season as he finally received some run support after seeing his teammates score only five times in his first three outings. He struck out nine over his six innings of work while allowing just one hit and walking none. Eric Human tossed the final three innings, striking out three, to pick up his first save of the year.
The Aztecs struck for single runs in the second and third innings on an RBI double by Taber Lee and a sacrifice fly by Jon Stephens, the first of his two on the night. Lee finished his night with the double and also reached twice after being hit by pitch. The junior shortstop has reached safely in his last eight bats with a pair of singles, two doubles, two walks, and two hit by pitch.
San Diego State put up three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to up its lead to 8-0. Two run doubles by Anthony Gwynn in the fourth and Garrett Cook in the fifth were the big blows.
Three more runs in the seventh, highlighted by Riley Barrett's solo home run, his first of the season, effectively put the game away. The Thunderbirds scored a pair of consolation runs in the eighth on an infield single, triple and sacrifice fly as they finished their night with just three hits.
San Diego State and Southern Utah continue their three-game series on Saturday, March 2, with a game slated to start at 2:00 p.m. That contest can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton calling the play-by-play.
San Diego state 11, Southern Utah 2SUU 000 000 020 - 2 3 4SDS -11 330 30x - 11 11 3White, Gardner (5), Ball (6), Ehat (8) and NelsonDunwell, Human (7) and Allen, Wilson (7), Perdue (8)W - Dunwell (1-2)L - White (0-3)Sv - Human (1)HR - SDS: Barrett (7th-none on)Att. - 572Time - 2:54