March 31, 2002
Salt Lake City - Utah pitcher Mitch Maio held San Diego State to five hits, pitching a complete-game as the Utes defeated the Aztecs, 3-1, at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City Sunday afternoon. The win improved Utah to 18-13 (4-5 in the Mountain West Conference) as they won two of the three games between the teams this past weekend.
SDSU saw its record fall to 22-11 overall and 5-3 in league play. Even with the loss, San Diego State finds itself tied for the league lead with Brigham Young after the first three weekends of conference action.
Maio, who upped his record to 5-1, struck out 11 and walked only one over his nine innings of work. SDSU's Mike Moat, who allowed a pair of runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings, took the loss and saw his record drop to 3-2 on the season.
Utah opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Third baseman Mike Westfall led off with a solo homer to left field. With one out, Mike Basham singled up the middle and stole second. After a single by catcher Jared Snyder advanced him to third, Basham scored on a single by Mike Baldwin.
San Diego State responded with a run in the top of the fifth on a single and stolen based by designated hitter Rielly Embrey and an RBI double by catcher Brian Manfred. Embrey was the lone Aztec to have more than one hit on the day as he reached safely twice.
The Utes added an insurance run in the eighth on a double by right fielder Brit Pannier, a fielder's choice, and a wild pitch.
San Diego now returns home to prepare for a non-league contest with cross-town rival University of San Diego (ranked 15th in the nation) on Tuesday, April 2, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Aztecs then host New Mexico in a three-game league series beginning Friday (April 5) at 6:00 p.m. The UNM series is the first of four consecutive conference home series for SDSU over the next four weekends.
Utah 3, San Diego StateSDSU 000 010 000 - 1 5 0Utah 000 200 01x - 3 10 0Moat, Harang (4), Carque (6), Ring (8) and ManfredMaio and SnyderW - Maio (5-1)L - Moat (3-2)Sv - NoneHR - Utah: Westfall (4th-none on)Att. - 421Time - 2:27