April 27, 2002
San Diego - The University of Utah took both ends of today's baseball doubleheader at San Diego State's Tony Gwynn Stadium to close within four games of the league-leading Aztecs.
The double victory, by scores of 14-9 and 2-1, improved the Utes to 27-19 overall and 11-9 in the Mountain West Conference play. SDSU fell to 33-16 and 15-5 in league play as it finds itself on the end of a season-longest three-game losing streak. The twin bill was played before a crowd of 1,788, the largest ever to see the Aztecs play at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
In game one, San Diego State jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings behind Taber Lee and Rielly Embrey, who combined for five hits over the first three frames. The duo each finished with three hits with Lee accounting for three RBI and Embrey two.
Utah started its comeback in the fourth with a two-run homer by second baseman Adam Castleton, then added six in the fifth inning. The big play in the inning was a two-out throwing error by SDSU second baseman Carlo Cota that opened the door for the Utes to score five unearned runs.
The Aztecs came back to take go ahead 9-8 in the bottom of the inning, but it was short-lived as Utah tacked on two more in the sixth to take a lead it would not relinquish. The Utes put an exclamation mark on their win with four runs over the final two innings.
Aztec starter Chris Dunwell, who was not involved in the decision, gave up eight runs on eight hits over five innings, with only five of those runs being earned. Sophomore Drew Jenson (0-1) was saddled with his first loss after being charged with the tying and go-ahead runs in his .2 innings of work.
Utah reliever Ryan Reisbeck improved to 3-0 while Jared Snyder recorded his fourth save of the year.
After the offensive explosion in game one, game two provided a change of pace with a tight pitching duel between the Utes' Cheyenne Rushton and SDSU's Rory Shortell.
Utah opened the scoring with a run in the second. After walks to Brit Pannier and Adam Castleton plus a single by Mike Westfall loaded the bases, a one-out fielder's choice off the bat of Jared Snyder drove in the go-ahead run.
The Aztecs tied the game in their half of the sixth on a double by Carlo Cota, sacrifice bunt by Jon Stephens, and a sacrifice fly by Jake McLintock.
The score remained tied until the ninth when Utah's Matt Ciaramella opened the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Donnie Saba. SDSU's Royce Ring came on to strike out Nate Weese before Pannier looped a single into right center to drive in the winning run.
Reliever Mitch Maio recorded the final three outs in the bottom of the inning to pick up his fourth save and help Rushton improve to 7-3 on the year. Shortell took the loss and saw his record fall to 7-3.
Utah and San Diego State conclude their three-game series |Sunday afternoon (April 28) at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Prior to the game, special ceremonies will be held honoring retiring Aztec baseball coach Jim Dietz starting at 12:30 p.m.
Utah 14, San Diego State 9Utah 000 262 031 - 14 18 2SDSU 223 110 000 - 9 12 2Wylie, Westmoreland (3), Reisbeck (5), Mackay (7), Snyder (8) and HawesDunwell, Jenson (6), Fiedler (6), Harang (8), Hartshorn (8) and ManfredW - Reisbeck (3-0)L - Jenson (0-1)Sv - Snyder (4)HR - Utah: Castleton (4th-one on)Time - 3:58
Utah 2, San Diego State 1Utah 100 000 001 - 2 5 0SDSU 000 001 000 - 1 6 0Rushton, Maio (9) and SnyderShortell, Ring (9) and ManfredW - Rushton (7-3)L - Shortell (7-3)Sv - Maio (4)HR - NoneAtt. - 1,788Time - 2:15