March 16, 2003
San Diego - After completing Saturday's suspended game with a 13-5 win Sunday morning, San Diego State fell to Utah, 9-7, in the series finale at Tony Gwynn Stadium in the afternoon. In avoiding the sweep, the Utes evened their record at 9-9 on the season and find themselves 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs saw a short two-game win streak ended as they fell to 9-16 (2-1 MWC).
Utah came out and struck early, grabbing two runs in the top of the first inning, with Jared Pena scoring on a passed ball and Matt Ciaramella coming home on a sacrifice fly by Jake Jordison.
That lead was short lived, however, as San Diego State came back with five in the bottom of the inning, getting RBI singles from Peter Stonard, Curt Mendoza and Josh Allen, plus a bases-loaded walk to Anthony Gwynn. From that point, SDSU's bats went silent for a while as they could only muster two hits over the next five innings.
The Utes took advantage of that lull to add a run in the second and score three times in the seventh to take a 6-5 lead. The big blow in the latter inning was a two-out two-RBI double by Jordison.
The Aztecs came back in the same inning to knot the score when Rielly Embrey reached on an error, was sacrificed to second, and scored on Josh Allen's single up the middle.
In the ninth, Utah re-took the lead by a single run. After loading the bases against reliever Ben Leuthard with one out, left-hander Drew Jenson came on an uncorked a wild pitch to bring home the go-ahead run. Jenson then retired the final two batters of the inning.
San Diego State again fought back in their half of the ninth to tie the contest at 7-7. Third baseman Ryan Wilson led off with a double and gave way to pinch runner Kyle Floquet, who advanced to third on a ground out by Mendoza. After Utah's Brady Martinez struck out Josh Hill for the second out, catcher Jordan Swayden knocked a 2-2 pitch into right field to tie the contest.
After a scoreless 10th, the Utes put a pair of runs on the board in the 11th, getting RBI singles from Eric Chevalier and Cort Wilson. Martinez (2-1) then got a double play and fly out to center in the bottom of the inning pick up the win. SDSU's Drew Jenson took the loss to fall to 3-1 on the year.
Peter Stonard had a pair of hits to lead the SDSU offense while Josh Allen and Curt Mendoza had two RBI's apiece in the losing cause.
Up next for the Aztecs is their first conference road trip of the season as they travel to Colorado Springs next weekend to face Air Force beginning Friday (March 21) at 2:00 p.m.
Utah 9, San Diego State 7 (11 inn.)Utah 210 000 301 02 - 9 16 2SDSU 500 000 101 00 - 7 11 2Coon, Leuthard (7), Jenson (9), Miller (11) and Allen, Swayden (8)Mackay, Larsen (5), Martinez (7) and Schlieman, Udy (8)W - Martinez (2-1)L - Jenson (3-1)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 1,020Time - 4:12