April 15, 2003
San Diego - The University of San Diego used timely hitting and solid pitching performances from five different hurlers as it defeated San Diego State, 8-4, Tuesday evening. The game was played before a crowd of 1,509, the third largest ever to see SDSU play at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory, the Toreros improved to 20-23 on the season while the Aztecs slumped to their third straight loss and fell to 16-22.
USD opened the scoring in the first on an error by SDSU first baseman Rielly Embrey that allowed Tony Perez to score from second. The Toreros returned the favor in the bottom of the second, as Jake McLintock reached on an error and eventually scored on a ground out to second by Ryan Wilson after a Curt Mendoza double.
From that point, it was pretty much went the visitors' way offensively, as USD got a solo homer run from Joey Prast in the third and a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. The runs in the fourth inning came on two-out RBI singles by Trevor Pike and Tony Perez.
SDSU got a run back in its half of the fourth with a another ground out by Wilson scoring McLintock from third once again. However, the Toreros regained their three-run advantage in the next frame courtesy of a two-out RBI single, this time by Mike Oseguera.
The Aztecs closed to within 5-3 with a run in the eighth, but USD put together a three-run rally in the top of the ninth to put the game way. The big blow in that inning was a two-run homer off the bat of Freddy Sandoval.
Chad Cummings, the second of five USD pitchers, picked up the win to improve to 4-1 on the season. Tony Perez, who started the game in center field, came on in relief in the eighth inning, finishing the game to record his eighth save of the year. SDSU's Daryl Harang suffered the loss to fall to 0-1.
Joey Prast led USD's attack with three hits and a pair of RBI, while Perez and Oseguera had two hits apiece. The Aztecs were paced by Kyle Floquet, Chad Corona and Rielly Embrey, each of whom recorded two hits on the night.
The Aztecs now travel to Salt Lake City where they will face Mountain West Conference foe Utah in a three-game series beginning Thursday (April 17) at noon (MDT) at Franklin Covey Field. That game can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com.
San Diego 8, San Diego State 4USD 101 210 003 - 8 12 3SDS 010 100 011 - 4 11 3Warlop, Cummings (5), Jones (7), Coy (8), Perez (8) and Pike, Dobek (8)Harang, Miller (4), Eigenhuis (7), Esparza (9) and AllenW - Cummings (4-1_L - Harang (0-1)Sv - Perez (8)HR - USD: Prast (3rd-none on) USD: Sandoval (9th-one on)Att. - 1507Time - 3:15