March 2, 2003
Lancaster, Calif. - San Diego State battled back from a 4-0 deficit and got solid relief pitching from junior Drew Jenson as it defeated Cal State Northridge, 5-4, at the Clash of the Conferences tournament in Lancaster Saturday night. With the win, the Aztecs ended a four-game losing streak and improved their record to 6-9. The Matadors fell to 4-13 on the season.
Starting pitcher Joe Carque was effective through the first four innings, allowing an unearned run on three hits over that span. However, he was touched up for three in the bottom of the fifth as CSN used a double, walk, single and safety squeeze bunt to score their runs and take a 4-0 lead.
SDSU began its comeback in the sixth when Landon Burt singled to right and went to second on an error by Matador right fielder Michael Paulk. After advancing to third on Anthony Gwynn's fly to center, Burt scored on James Guerrero's single to right.
In the seventh, Aztec designated hitter Curt Mendoza single with two outs and came around to score on Chad Corona's double to left center.
Trailing 4-2, San Diego State took the lead for the first time in the game with three runs in the eighth. A single by Gwynn and walks to Guerrero and Peter Stonard loaded the bases with no outs off Northridge's Eric Foxman (0-1). Edward Camacho came on in relief of Foxman and was greeted by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jake McLintock to score Gwynn.
Pinch hitter Garret Cook then hit a bloop double to center that just eluded the reach of CSN shortstop Dominick Phillips. Guerrero scored on the play to tie the game at 4-4 with Guerrero and Cook ending up on third and second respectively. A walk to Jordan Swaydan was followed by a sacrifice fly by Curt Mendoza that brought home Guerrero with what proved to be the winning run.
Junior left-hander Drew Jenson, who came on in relief of Carque with a man on and no outs in the bottom of the seventh, finished the game to pick up his second win of the season against no defeats. Jenson retired nine of the 10 batters he faced over the final three innings.
James Guerrero led the SDSU offense with three hits on the night with a run scored and an RBI. Landon Burt and Anthony Gwynn had two hits apiece for the Aztecs as well. It was Burt's second straight game in the leadoff role, and in those two contests he has reached safely five times (three singles and two walks).
San Diego State concludes play at the Clash of the Conferences on Sunday when it faces Washington at 9:30 a.m. The game can be heard live on the internet at www.goaztecs.com with the pregame show beginning at 9:20 a.m. (PST).
San Diego State 5, CSU Northridge 4SDS 000 001 130 - 5 11 2CSN 010 030 000 - 4 7 2Carque, Jenson (7) and SwaydanBierly, Foxman (7), Camacho (7) and CaytonW - Jenson (2-0)L - Foxman (0-1)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 328Time - 3:16