Feb. 22, 2003
Miami - A trio of Miami pitchers held San Diego State to four hits as the Hurricanes handed the Aztecs their second defeat in two days, this time by a score of 4-1. With the win, 13th-ranked Miami improved to 6-2 on the year while SDSU saw its record fall to 5-7.
The Aztecs got another good starting pitching performance, this time from senior Joe Carque, who went seven innings and allowed four runs on six hits while striking out five. However, a lack of offensive production for the second night in a row saddled him with the loss as he evened his season mark at 1-1.
Miami starter, Vince Bongiovanni, retired the first 11 Aztecs he faced before allowing a bunt single to Anthony Gwynn with two outs in the fourth. Bongiovanni improved to 2-1 on the season, allowing one run and striking out six over 5.2 innings.
The Hurricanes put their first run on the board in the second innings when Jim Burt singled, stole second, and came home on Greg Dini's RBI single. Two innings later, Burt hit a two-run homer to right center, scoring Ryan Braun, who had doubled, ahead of him.
SDSU's lone run came in the fifth inning when Landon Burt's infield single drove in Ryan Wilson from third. Burt had two of the Aztecs' hits on the night.
Miami manufactured an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Paco Figueroa, a sac bunt, a fly to right that advanced him to third, and a wild pitch by Carque.
Shawn Valdes-Fauli went the final 1.1 innings on the mound for the Hurricanes to pick up his first save of the season.
"I don't know what it is about ranked teams that seems to keep us from playing like I know we can," commented head coach Tony Gwynn. "We got another well pitched game tonight from Carque, but couldn't make it count in our favor.
"We didn't have as many opportunities offensively tonight as we did last night, but we still weren't able to make the most of the chances we got. Our effort tonight was better than in the first game. Our guys are trying hard, trying to make things happen, but falling short."
The third game of the SDSU-Miami series gets underway on Sunday (Feb. 23) at noon (EST). The game may be heard live on the internet at www.gozetcs.com beginning at 8:50 a.m. in San Diego (11:40 a.m. EST) with Alan Horton's pregame show. The game will also be televised on a tape-delayed basis on Cox Channel 4 San Diego beginning at 1:00 p.m. (PST).
Miami 4, San Diego State 1SDS 000 010 000 - 1 4 0MIA 010 210 00x - 4 7 2Carque, Harang (8) and SwaydanBongiovanni, Lane (6), Valdes-Fauli (8) and DiniW - Bongiovanni (2-1)L - Carque (1-1)Sv - Valdes-Fauli (1)HR - MIA: Burt (4th-one on)Att. - 4094Time - 2:45