March 29, 2003
Las Vegas - Curt Mendoza's RBI single in the top of the 10th brought home the winning run as San Diego State defeated UNLV, 4-3, in extra innings Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The contest left UNLV (21-9) and SDSU (13-17) tied for second in the Mountain West Conference standings with identical 6-2 records, a half game behind New Mexico (7-2).
After being no-hit the previous night, the Aztecs banged out 12 hits on Saturday, but the defense over the first few innings was what kept them in the game.
SDSU starter Ben Coon found himself in trouble in the bottom of the first when the Rebels loaded the bases on a single, double and hit batter. After striking out the next hitter, Coon then grabbed Fernando Valenzuela's line drive around his ankles and threw to third for the inning-ending double play.
In the second, UNLV had runners on first and third with one out when Coon induced designated hitter Stephen Ghutzman to hit into a 6-3 double play.
But perhaps the biggest defensive play of the game came in the fourth. With runners on first and third and two outs, Ghutzman hit a ball to deep right center that appeared destined for extra bases. However, Aztec center fielder Anthony Gwynn made a full-out diving catch on the dead run to end the Rebel threat.
Meanwhile the San Diego State offense produced a pair of runs to take the lead. Garrett Cook and James Guerrero had RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings respectively to stake the Aztecs to a 2-0 advantage.
However, that lead was short-lived as Coon ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth when UNLV took the lead on a three-run homer by Fernando Valenzuela. The Rebel first baseman's blast over the right field fence came with two outs after Coon had surrendered a pair of walks.
SDSU came back to tie the contest in its next at bat as freshman designated hitter Curt Mendoza led off the sixth with a solo home run to right, his second of the season. Mendoza was also a key player in SDSU's 10th-inning, driving in Peter Stonard from third base with two outs with what proved to be the game-winning run.
San Diego State lefty Drew Jenson, who came on in relief of Coon after Valenzuela's homer in the fifth, pitched the final 5.1 innings, allowing three hits while striking out six. It was the longest stint of Jenson's Aztec career as he improved to 4-1 on the season.
The Rebels' Ryan Braun, who pitched the final inning, suffered his first loss of the year to fall to 2-1. Braun had replaced UNLV starter Robbie Van who scattered 10 hits over his nine innings of work and struck out six.
SDSU's Jake McLintock led all batters with three hits on the day while Stonard and Mendoza also collected two hits apiece. No UNLV hitter had more than one hit with Valenzuela accounting for all three Rebel RBIs.
San Diego State and UNLV conclude their three-game series on Sunday (March 30) at 1:00 p.m. (PST). The game will be broadcast on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton's pregame show beginning at 12:50 p.m. (PST).
San Diego State 4, UNLV 3 (10 inn.)SDSU 000 111 000 1 - 4 12 2UNLV 000 030 000 0 - 3 9 1Coon, Jenson (5) and AllenVan, Braun (20) and VanKirkW - Jenson (4-1)L - Braun (2-1)Sv - NoneHR - UNLV: Valenzuela (5th-two on) SDSU: Mendoza (6th-none on)Att. - 724Time - 3:22