May 17, 2002
Las Vegas - San Diego State came from behind with six runs over the final three innings and defeated UNLV, 10-5, Friday night at Earl Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The teams combined to use 13 pitchers over the nine innings in a contest that saw five lead changes before the Aztecs took the lead for good in the seventh.
The win boosted SDSU's record to 39-21 overall (19-10 Mountain West Conference), as it is one win away from achieving its goal of 40 regular-season wins. The loss dropped UNLV to 28-27 on the year and 13-16 in league play.
San Diego State took the first lead of the night when Jon Stephens singled in Carlo Cota in the second. Cota, who had doubled with two outs, finished the evening with four hits, an RBI and run scored.
SDSU's lead did not last long, however, as UNLV's Ryan Ruiz and Brent Johnson hit back-to-back homers to lead off the bottom of the third. The Aztecs tied the game in the fourth on an RBI-fielder's choice by Brian Manfred, but another solo homer, this time by David Trujillo in the fifth, restored UNLV's one-run lead at 3-2.
The Aztecs took their first lead in the sixth on a two-out, two-run single by Taber Lee. But once again the Rebels came back, this time with a run in their half of the sixth on a fielder's choice RBI by catcher Robert VanKirk.
SDSU finally got a lead with a little breathing room with three runs in the seventh. An RBI single by Jake McLintock and a two-run single off the bat of Landon Burt gave San Diego State a 7-4 advantage.
Junior right-hander Chris Hartshorn, SDSU's fourth pitcher of the night, was the beneficiary of the Aztec uprising as he was credited with the win to raise his record to 2-0. UNLV's Ben Scheinbaum, one of four Rebel pitchers in the seventh, took the loss to fall to 2-2.
After UNLV got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, the Aztecs padded their lead in the eighth on a two-out RBI triple by Jake McLintock and an RBI single by Anthony Gwynn. McLintock went 3-for-5 on the night with three runs scored and a pair of RBI.
Carlo Cota's RBI single in the ninth accounted for San Diego State's final run as the Aztecs received clutch hitting throughout the game. Seven of SDSU's 10 runs came with two outs.
San Diego State and UNLV will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Saturday (May 18) beginning at 2:00 p.m. (PDT). That game can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton calling the action. The broadcast begins with the Aztec Pregame Show at approximately 1:50 p.m.
Following Saturday's game, the Aztecs will remain in Las Vegas that night and practice Sunday morning at UNLV's field. They will then board the bus for the six-hour trip to Provo, Utah, to begin preparations for the conference tournament that begins Wednesday (May 22). SDSU will open the tournament against New Mexico at 11:00 a.m. (MDT) on Wednesday.
San Diego State 10, UNLV 5SDSU 001 102 321 - 10 17 0UNLV 002 011 100 - 5 10 0Dunwell, Jenson (3), Harrand (4), Hartshorn (6), Harang (7), Human (8), Ring (9) and ManfredHall, Scheinbaum (6), Weinberg (7), Harris (7), Gann (7), Watts (9) and VanKirk, Nepa (7)W - Hartshorn (2-0)L - Scheinbaum (2-2)Sv - NoneHR: UNLV (Ruiz (3rd-none on), Johnson (3rd-none on), Trujillo (5th-none on)Att. - 425Time - 3:39