March 2, 2003
Lancaster, Calif. - For the second time in three days, San Diego State saw a 5-1 lead evaporate late in the game as it dropped an 8-5 decision to Washington at the Clash of the Conferences tournament in Lancaster, Calif., on Sunday. The loss leaves the Aztecs with a 6-10 mark after the first month of the season while Washington evened its 2003 record to 6-6.
SDSU freshman starting pitcher Ben Coon (1-2) had a solid outing, but tired in the eighth inning and left the game with a 5-4 lead. The Aztec bullpen was unable to contain the Huskies, who scored four times too take the lead for the first time in the contest.
The Huskies took the early lead, scoring a single run in the third on Tila Reynolds two-out single that scored John Otness, who had singled to lead off the inning.
San Diego State, meanwhile, was being shut down by Husky starter Jeff Petersen, who struck out 10 over his five innings of works. However, the Aztecs broke thorough in the top of the fifth, courtesy of some shaky fielding by Washington.
With one out, catcher Josh Allen walked and went to second on a wild pitch. Anthony Gwynn then followed with a two-out walk to put Aztecs on first and second. James Guerrero then hit a ground ball to Husky third baseman John Otness, who bobbled the ball, then dropped the ball while applying the tag to Allen.
Peter Stonard then made Washington pay by lining a single to left to score Allen and Guerrero. SDSU's Jake McLintock then lofted a fly ball to left field that was dropped by Justin Drake, allowing both Guerrero and Stonard to come around and give SDSU a 4-1 lead.
The Aztecs padded their lead in the seventh with a rally that began with a single by Landon Burt. Gwynn was then hit by pitch, and with one out the duo executed a double steal. Stonard then hit his third single of the day to bring home Burt with SDSU's fifth run.
However, SDSU's four-run lead didn't last long as UW came back with three in its half of the seventh. The Huskies used three singles and an Aztec during the rally with the big blow being a two-RBI single by Otness. They then tacked on four more in the eighth to win it.
On the day, Washington hurlers struck 17 Aztec batters, led by starter Jeff Petersen with 10 over his five innings of work. Husky reliever Will Fenton (1-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 2.2 innings and striking out five.
San Diego State second baseman Peter Stonard led the Aztec offense with three singles, a run scored and three runs batted in. SDSU totaled six hits on the afternoon.
Up nest for the Aztecs is a contest at Long Beach State on Tuesday (Mar. 4) at 6:30 p.m. at Blair Field. It will mark the beginning of a busy week for SDSU, which will play five games in six days.
Washington 8, San Diego State 5SDS 000 040 100 - 5 6 3UW 001 000 34x - 8 12 3Coon, Hartshorn (8), Heil (8) and AllenPetersen, Baysinger (6), Fenton (7) and Thiel, Hathaway (7)W - Fenton (1-0)L - Coon (1-1)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 325Time - 3:04