Jan. 31, 2003
Santa Barbara - San Diego State could not come up with timely hits when it needed them as it came out on the short end of a pitchers' duel at UC Santa Barbara, losing 2-1. It was the fourth straight loss for the Aztecs while the Gauchos were winners in what was their 2003 season opener.
In his second start of the year, SDSU starter Mike Moat had another excellent effort, allowing two runs (one earned) over six innings. The junior right-hander walked only one while striking out seven, but took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season.
The Gauchos scored their first run in the second inning thanks to a pair of Aztec defensive lapses. After an opening walk and single, an error on a potential double play grounder by second baseman Peter Stonard allowed UCSB to load the bases. Matt Emerick then grounded a ball to third that was misplayed by Chad Corona, allowing a run to score.
With the bases loaded and still no outs, Moat then got out of trouble with a pair of strikeouts and an unassisted force at the plate by catcher Josh Allen.
UC Santa Barbara increased its lead to 2-0 in the fourth on a leadoff solo home run by designated hitter Taylor Vogt.
The Aztecs got on the board in the fifth on a two-out double by Allen and an RBI single by freshman James Guerrero. However, the SDSU offense was stymied for most of the game by UCSB starter Matt Vasquez, who picked up the win after six innings of work.
Vasquez worked out of several jams during the afternoon. The Aztecs threatened with men on first and second and no outs in the third, but could not score. In the fourth, Peter Stonard's double, the first of his two hits on the afternoon, led to SDSU having a runner on third with one out, but he was stranded there. Stonard again reached third two innings later, but could not score.
After Gaucho reliever Ivan Ramirez retired six Aztecs in a row over the seventh and eighth innings, SDSU loaded the bases with two outs in the final frame against closer Jared Edrosolan, but again could not push a run across.
San Diego State and UC Santa Barbara continue their three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 1) at 1:00 p.m. at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on the UCSB campus. Senior Joe Carque will start on the mound for SDSU in a game that can be heard live on the internet at www.goaztecs.com beginning at 12:50 p.m. (PST).
UC Santa Barbara 2, San Diego State 1SDSU 000 010 000 - 1 6 2UCSB 010 c100 000 - 2 7 0Moat, Pace (7), Harang (8) and AllenVasquez, Ramirez (7), Edrosolan (9) and ZiemendorfW - Vasquez (1-0)L - Moat (0-1)Sv - Vogt (1)HR: UCSB - Vogt (4th-none on)Att. - 1,000Time - 2:35