Jan. 25, 2003
Tempe, Ariz. - Arizona State scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to spoil a spirited comeback effort by San Diego State in the top of the inning as the 8th-ranked Sun Devils defeated the Aztecs, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at Packard Stadium in Tempe. The loss dropped SDSU to 0-2 on the young season while ASU remained perfect with an 8-0 record.
For the second day in a row, San Diego State got excellent starting pitching, this time in the form of Joe Carque. The senior from Henderson, Nev., shut out the Sun Devils on no hits through the first four innings, before giving up a run in the fifth on a single by Dennis Wyrick, a fielders choice, and an RBI single by Dustin Pedroia.
SDSU came back to tie the game in the next inning when Anthony Gwynn reached on a bunt single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on an RBI single by Peter Stonard.
However, the score did not stay tied long as ASU's Jeremy West hit a solo homer off Carque in the bottom of the sixth. Two innings later, the Sun Devils upped their lead to 3-1 on another solo home run, this time by Jeff Larish off Aztec reliever Chris Hartshorn.
In the top of the ninth, Arizona State reliever Beau Vaughan was greeted by a single off the bat of Jake McLintock. After a walk to Rielly Embrey, the Aztecs inserted pinch runners Landon Burt and David Hall at second and first respectively. A fly ball to center by Chad Corona allowed Burt to advance to third.
With one out, freshman left fielder Curt Mendoza then singled up the middle to bring home Burt and send Hall to third. The Sun Devils then brought in closer Ryan Schroyer, who struck out Josh Allen for the second out of the inning. Schroyer was looking to record his third save of the year and second of the weekend, but SDSU freshman shortstop James Guerrero hit a 2-2 pitch through the left side to bring home Hall with the tying run.
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch hitter Nick Walsh opened the inning with a single off Hartshorn and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Pedroia. Aaron Harang then came on in relief for SDSU, but his first pitch was a wild one that sent Walsh to third. After a walk to Travis Buck, right fielder Andre Ethier hit a squibber down the third base line that took a bad hop and went for an infield single to drive in the winning run.
ASU's Schroyer was credited with the win, his first of the season, while Hartshorn took the loss for San Diego State.
Guerrero led the Aztecs with three hits on the afternoon and is hiting .400 (4-for-10) after his first two collegiate games. Junior Peter Stonard also had a pair of hits for the Aztecs and is 4-for-8 on the weekend.
SDSU and Arizona State conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon (Jan. 26) at 1:00 p.m. (MST) in Tempe with freshman right-hander Ronnie Lindsay expected to get the start for San Diego State. The game can be heard live on the internet at www.goaztecs.com beginninhg 10 minutes before game time with the pre-game show hosted by Alan Horton.
Arizona State 4, San Diego State 3SDS 000 001 002 - 3 9 1ASU 000 011 011 - 4 9 2Carque, Hartshorn (6), Harang (9) and AllenLieback, Vaughan (6), Schroyer (9) and GosewichW - Schroyer (1-0)L - Hartshorn (0-1)Sv - NoneHR - ASU: West (6th-none on), Larish (8th-none on)Att. - 3,249Time - 3:05