March 9, 2002
Irvine - San Diego State combined clutch hitting with some excellent defensive play in defeating UC Irvine, 5-2, Friday evening at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine. The win extended the Aztecs' current win streak to five games and upped their record to 15-6. The Anteaters fell to 12-11.
SDSU struck for its opening two runs with two out in the first inning. After Jake McLintock reached on an error by UCI shortstop B.J. Eucce, Josh Hill drew a walk. Jon Stephens then hit an 0-2 pitch into right field that hit in front the diving Jordan Szabo and skipped past him for a double. Both McLintock and Hill scored on the play.
The Aztecs added a pair of runs in the fourth after loading the bases with back-to-back singles by Stephens and Chad Corona, plus a walk to Taber Lee. With two outs, Anthony Gwynn drew a base on balls to bring Stephens home. UCI starter Sean Tracey (3-2) then committed balk to allow Corona to score and give the Aztecs a four-run cushion.
Meanwhile, SDSU starter Chris Dunwell cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out five. However, the junior right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up a run on two walks, a hit batter and a single before being relieved by senior Erik Fiedler with the bases loaded.
After a sacrifice fly scored UCI's second run, a hit batter loaded the bases again with two outs. Jon Stephens then turned in SDSU's first defensive gem of the night to end the as he dove to his left to grab a grounder off the bat of Gregg Wallis and toss to pitcher Erik Fiedler to retire the side.
The Anteaters threatened again in the seventh as they opened the frame with a double and single to put runners on the corners with no outs. After a strikeout, left-hander Daryl Harang came on to pitch. The first batter he faced, right fielder Chris Klemm, hit a sharp liner to the right of Aztec second baseman Carlo Cota who made a diving grab and fired to first to double up the UCI base runner.
San Diego State added an insurance run in the eighth when Riley Barrett's two-out single brought home Chad Corona, who had reached on an error and moved to second after a walk to Taber Lee. Lee, who reached base in 11 consecutive at bats over three games last week, began a new streak by recording a single, two walks and a hit by pitch in his four plate appearances.
Dunwell (2-2) picked up the win, going five innings and striking out five. Junior Royce Ring pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his sixth save of the season. The save was the 15th of his career and moved him into sole possession of the number-two spot on the SDSU record list, two behind Mark Williamson who holds the school record with 17.
Jon Stephens finished the night with three hits including a double and two RBI while Riley Barrett also had a pair of hits for the Aztecs. Freshman Jake McLintock extended his hitting streak to 11 games, tying for the longest on the team this season with Anthony Gwynn, who went hitless on the night and saw his streak come to an end.
UC Irvine and San Diego State continue their three-game series on Saturday (March 9) with game two set for a 4:00 p.m. start at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego. That contest can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com.
San Diego State 5, UC Irvine 2SDS 200 200 010 - 5 8 1UCI 000 002 000 - 2 5 2Dunwell, Fiedler (6), Harang (7), Ring (9) and AllenTracey, Koller (7), Tripoli (8) and MillerW - Dunwell (2-2)L - Tracey (3-2)Sv - Ring (6)HR - NoneAtt. - 910Time: 2:51