March 9, 2003
San Diego - San Diego State rode the pitching of freshman Ben Coon and generated enough offense to end a five-game losing streak as it defeated UC Irvine, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The victory improved the Aztecs to 7-14 on the year while the Anteaters, who had captured the first two games of the series, dropped to 6-12.
After allowing two unearned runs in the top of the first, Coon (2-1) settled in and completed the game with seven strikeouts and just one walk. He allowed just four hits and one earned run over the final eight innings as he recorded his second win of the year. Coon got stronger as the game progressed, facing just one batter over the minimum during the final four innings.
After seeing UCI take the early lead, SDSU answered back with a run in its half of the opening inning. Leadoff hitter Anthony Gwynn opened the frame with a single, stole second and third, and scored on Curt Mendoza's RBI single.
The Aztecs then took the lead for good with three runs in the fourth. Peter Stonard tripled to start the rally, and came home on James' Guerrero's single. Three batters later, first baseman Rielly Embrey stroked a two-run homer to right, scoring Jordan Swaydan, who had reached on a fielder's choice, ahead of him.
UCI got a run back in the fifth to make it 4-3, but SDSU added an insurance run in the sixth when Swaydan singled home Stonard, who had reached safely to begin the inning. Stonard, Embrey and Jake McLintock had two hits apiece for San Diego State.
The Aztecs will have little time to savor the win, as they will face 8th-ranked Long Beach State on Wednesday evening (March 12) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Following that contest, SDSU will open its 2003 Mountain West Conference season with a three-game series vs. Utah at home starting Friday.
San Diego State 5, UC Irvine 3UCI 200 010 000 - 3 6 1SDS 100 301 00x - 5 11 1Alstot, Schroer (5), Tripoli, (6), French (8) and WerhunCoon And SwaydanW - Coon (2-1)L - Alstot (1-3)Sv - NoneHR - SDS: Embrey (4th-one on)Att. - 1,035Time - 2:32