Feb. 16, 2003
San Diego - After hitting just two home runs in its first nine games, San Diego State connected for three on Sunday to power past visiting Santa Clara, 9-3, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The long balls complemented a fine pitching performance by freshman Ben Coon in his collegiate starting debut. With the win, the Aztecs climbed to 5-5 on the year while the Broncos evened their season ledger at 6-6.
Coon (1-0), a first-year Aztec from nearby Grossmont High School, was touched up for a pair of runs in the first and one in the third, but settled down to retire 10 Bronco hitters in a row and 13 of the last 14 he faced over his seven innings of work. Coon showed excellent control, walking none and striking out four on the afternoon.
After Santa Clara opened the contest with a pair of runs, San Diego State came right back in the bottom of the first, putting four on the board to take the lead for good. With Peter Stonard on first as a result of fielder's choice that erased James Guerrero (who had singled with one out), SDSU staged a two-out rally.
A stolen base and a balk put Stonard on third when Santa Clara starter John Redmond issued a walk to Jake McLintock. Jordan Swaydan then lined an infield single off Redmond's glove to score Stonard and send McLintock to third.
A walk to DH Brian Kinsman loaded the bases before Redmond committed his second balk of the inning to tie the score at 2-2. Rielly Embrey then delivered a single to left to drive in the final two runs of the inning.
After the Broncos closed the gap to 4-3 with a run in the top of the third, Swaydan restored SDSU's two-run lead with a home run in the bottom of the inning. The Aztecs made it 6-3 in the same inning on Curt Mendoza's two-out triple that scored Embrey, who had walked.
McLintock made it 8-3 one inning later with a two-run blast that also scored Stonard, who had reached on a single. Embrey completed the scoring with a solo homer to right center field in the fifth.
Aztec hurlers Ryan Heil and Mark Esparza tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings respectively. Redmond (1-2) took the loss for Santa Clara.
Up next for the Aztecs is a trip to Florida where they will meet perennial national power Miami in a three-game series beginning Friday (Feb. 21) at 7:00 p.m. (EST). The Hurricanes were ranked 14th in the nation last week by Collegiate Baseball magazine.
As always, every game of the SDSU-Miami series may be heard live on the internet at www.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton calling the play-by-play. The pregame show for Friday's opener will begin at 3:50 p.m. PST in San Diego (6:50 p.m. EST).
San Diego State 9, Santa Clara 3SCU 201 000 000 - 3 7 2SDS 402 210 00x - 9 10 0Coon, Heil (8), Esparza (9) and SwaydanRedmond, Fillinger (3), Shapiro (5), Overholt (8) and MandleyW - Coon (1-0)L - Redmond (1-2)Sv - NoneHR - SDSU: Swaydan (3rd-none on), McLintock (4th-one on), Embrey (5th-none on)Att. - 1,019Time - 3:17