Feb. 21, 2003
Coral Gables, Fla. - An inability to cash in on early opportunities cost the Aztecs as they fell to Miami, 6-3, Friday evening at Mark Light Stadium. San Diego State wasted another fine pitching performance from junior Mike Moat, who allowed one unearned run on two hits in 5.1 innings. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 5-6 on the season while the 13th-ranked Hurricanes improved to 5-2.
After leaving runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, the Aztecs got on the board in the top of the fourth. After Chad Corona reached on an error by the Miami third baseman to open the inning, Josh Allen hit a two-run homer to left center to stake SDSU to a 2-0 lead.
The Hurricanes came back with a run on the bottom of the inning on a two-out bases loaded passed ball that allowed Ryan Braun to come home with an unearned run and cut SDSU's lead to 2-1.
Miami then made the Aztecs pay for their inability to score earlier, erupting for five runs in the bottom of the sixth off relievers Joey Pace and Ben Leuthard. The Hurricanes scored their runs on five hits and a walk, the big blow being a two-out two-RBI single by Paco Figueroa that gave Miami a 4-2 lead.
"When you leave ducks on the pond in college baseball like we did, it usually comes back to bite you," said head coach Tony Gwynn. "We had our opportunities to build a lead early and couldn't get it done. We let them (Miami) hang around and they had the one big inning.
"We've had guys in scoring position all year and have had trouble bringing them in. We pitched well enough tonight, we just couldn't cash in when we had the chances. Until we get better with guys in scoring position, this is the kind of situation we'll find ourselves in."
SDSU got one run back in the seventh when Anthony Gwynn walked and advanced to second on a single by James Guerrero. The duo went to third on an errant pickoff throw by reliever J.D. Cockroft with Gwynn scoring later in the inning on a wild pitch.
Hurricane starter Dan Touchet (2-0) picked up his second win of the season, going six innings and allowing two unearned runs while striking out nine. Cockroft threw the final three innings to record his first save of the year. SDSU's Joey Pace (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on three hits and a walk in his one-third inning of relief.
James Guerrero (two singles and a double) and Peter Stonard (two singles) accounted for five of SDSU's eight hits on the night.
San Diego State and Miami continue their three-game series on Saturday (Feb. 22) at 7:00 p.m. at Mark Light Stadium in Coral Gables. The game can be heard live on the internet beginning with Alan Horton's pregame show at 3:50 pm in San Diego (6:50 pm EST). The game will also be televised on Cox Channel 4 San Diego on a tape-delayed basis beginning at 9:30 p.m. (PST).
Miami 6, San Diego State 3SDS 000 200 100 - 3 8 2MIA 000 105 00x - 6 9 2Moat, Pace (6), Leuthard (6) and AllenTouchet, Cockroft (7) and DiniW - Touchet (2-0)L - Pace (0-1)Sv - Cockroft (1)HR - SDS: Allen (4th-one on)Att. - 3519Time - 3:12