Feb. 14, 2003
San Diego - San Diego State rebounded from a shaky start to come back and defeat Santa Clara, 5-4, at Tony Gwynn Stadium Friday night. The win was the fourth straight for the Aztecs who evened their record at 4-4. The loss also puts the Broncos at the .500 mark on the year at 5-5.
After Santa Clara jumped on starter Joe Carque for a run in its first at bat, SDSU came back in the bottom of the first to knot the score as James Guerrero scored on Peter Stonard's apparent double down the left field line. Stonard was called out for missing first base on the play, but the run and the RBI stood.
The Broncos touched up Carque for a pair of runs in the third on a single by left fielder Joe Diefenderfer, a hit batter, and a two-RBI double by right fielder Jason Matteucci. The Aztecs got one back in the fifth on Anthony Gwynn's RBI single that scored catcher Jordan Swaydan.
Santa Clara Starter Matt Travis handled the Aztecs effectively through much of the first six innings, walking none and striking out five. But he ran into trouble in the seventh when Chad Corona led off the inning with a double to left field. After retiring Curt Mendoza, Travis gave way to Anthony Rea, who was greeted by an RBI double from pinch hitter Josh Allen to tie the contest. Allen later scored the go-ahead run on Gwynn's groundout to short as San Diego State took a 4-3 lead.
SDSU added an insurance run in the eighth when Jake McLintock came around from first base on a Rielly Embrey hit that was misplayed by Diefenderfer in left field. That run proved to be important as Santa Clara got one back in the ninth off reliever Will Miller before he closed out the game.
Drew Jenson (1-0) picked up his first win of the season in relief for San Diego State while Miller recorded his second save of the year. Rea (0-1) took the loss for the Broncos. Corona and Swaydan had a pair of hits on the night as did sophomore outfielder David Hall.
The Aztecs and Broncos continue their three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 15) with a 1:00 p.m. start at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The game may be heard live on the internet at ww.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton calling the play-by-play.
San Diego State 5, Santa Clara 4SCU 102 000 001 - 4 7 3SDS 100 010 21x - 5 11 0Carque, Jenson (7), Miller (8) and Swaydan, Allen (8)Travis, rea (7), Fillinger (7) and Wallace, McColgan (8)W - Jenson (1-0)L - Rea (0-1)Sv - Miller (2)HR - NoneAtt. - 761Time - 2:58