May 23, 2003
Albuquerque - UNLV got three-run home runs from Patrick Dobson and Fernando Valenzuela, plus a late grand slam from Robert VanKirk as it defeated San Diego State, 13-1, Friday afternoon at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. With the win, the Rebels (44-15) move into Saturday's tourney championship game. SDSU, meanwhile, will play the winner of Friday afternoon's contest between Utah and Brigham Young later tonight. The winner of that game will advance to Saturday's title round.
UNLV left-hander Jake Vose shut down the SDSU offense in a complete-game effort, allowing just a single run on four hits. With the win, he improved to 8-4 on the season. SDSU starter Ben Coon did not fare as well, allowing eight runs on 10 hits over the first 3.1 innings as he saw his record fall to 5-5.
San Diego State (28-31) got its lone run in the third inning when James Guerrrero's one-out single was followed by a double from Anthony Gwynn to put runners on second and third. Guerrero later scored on a wild pitch.
SDSU's other hits in the game came off the bats of second baseman Kyle Floquet (a doubled in the seventh) and outfielder David Hall (single in the eighth).
Dobson did most of the damage on the afternoon for the Rebels before being removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning. In addition to his three-run homer, he had a two-RBI single and an RBI triple. His six runs batted in established a new single-game tournament record and his total of 12 RBIs through three contests thus far is a tourney mark as well.
VanKirk's grand slam came off SDSU's Ryan Wilson, an junior infielder making the first pitching appearance of his career as the Aztecs attempted to save some pitching for the remainder of the tournament.
Tonight's Aztec game (at 7:00 p.m. MDT) can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com with Alan Horton's pregame show starting 10 minutes prior to game time.
UNLV 11, San Diego State 1SDSU 000 100 000 - 1 4 1UNLV 003 510 00x - 13 18 2Coon, Eigenhuis (4), Levy (5), Wilson (8) and AllenVose and VanKirkW - Vose (8-4)L - Coon (5-5)Sv - NoneTime - 2:36