March 26, 2002
San Diego - San Diego State converted 11 walks into four runs and got an excellent pitching performance from redshirt sophomore Rob Harrand as it defeated Cal State Northridge, 7-2, at Tony Gwynn Stadium Tuesday evening. The win improved the Aztec to 21-9 on the season while the Matadors dropped to 18-10.
Harrand, a junior from Regina, Canada, got the starting nod to face a Northridge squad that was averaging over 10 hits and sevens run a game, and had already recorded wins over teams such as Oklahoma State and UCLA this season. He proceeded to pitch six strong innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out six. In the process, he upped his record to 3-0 while lowering is ERA to 3.97.
San Diego State wasted no time in taking advantage of the Matador pitching staff's generosity as Carlo Cota drew a one-out walk in the first off starter Tim Dorn. Garrett Cook then reached on an error by CSN shortstop Dominick Phillips, and Jon Stephens then walked to load the bases. A sacrifice fly to right by Jake McLintock staked SDSU to an early 1-0 lead.
Dorn, a 6-8 freshman from Monrovia, allowed just the one unearned run on one hit with four walks and a strikeout in his three innings of work, taking the loss to even his record at 1-1.
The Aztecs added two more in the sixth when Josh Hill and Brian Manfred drew walks to open the inning. A sac bunt by Rielly Embrey combined with a wild pitch, past ball, and fielder's choice by Taber Lee gave San Diego State a 3-0 advantage.
SDSU needed no help in the fifth when McLintock, a freshman from nearby Bonita Vista High, hit a home run deep over the left field fence.
Northridge battled back with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. After surrendering a leadoff walk, Harrand was replaced by Daryl Harang. Another walk followed by a pair of RBI singles scored a pair of runs and brought on reliever Chris Hartshorn who closed out the seventh.
Any thoughts the Matadors had of a comeback were quickly extinguished as the Aztecs answered back with three runs in their half of the inning. Anthony Gwynn's double into right centerfield scored Riley Barrett from first base. Barrett had come on to pinch run for Rielly Embrey who led off the inning with a walk. A single by Taber Lee scored Gwynn, and Lee himself scored two batters later on a fielder's choice ground out by Stephens.
Gwynn was the lone Aztec with more than on hit while Lee and McLintock accounted for two RBI apiece. The Matadors finished the game with a total of five hits, all singles.
San Diego State now prepares to return to Mountain West Conference action as it travels to Salt Lake City this weekend to face Utah for three games. The first contest of that series will take place on Friday (March 29) at 2:00 p.m. (MST). The game can be heard live on the Internet beginning 10 minutes prior to scheduled start time (12:50 p.m. in San Diego) with Alan Horton calling the action.
San Diego State 7, Cal State Northridge 2CSN 000 000 200 - 2 5 1SDS 100 210 10x - 7 8 0Dorn, Cayton (4), Fortugno (5), Rosales (7), Robertson (8) and Archer, Allec (7)Harrand, Harang (7), Hartshorn (7), Fiedler (9) and ManfredW - Harrand (3-0)L - Dorn (1-1)Sv - NoneHR - SDS: McLintock (5th-none on)Att. - 1005Time - 3:10