May 3, 2003
San Diego - UNLV got five home runs from four different players along with a fine pitching performance from starter Matt Luca as it defeated San Diego State, 15-3, at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Saturday. With the victory, the Rebels (37-12; 20-3 MWC) inched closer to clinching the regular-season Mountain West Conference title while the Aztecs (21-27, 13-10 MWC) fell into fourth place in the league.
UNLV scored quickly to open the game as center fielder Patrick Dobson, who finished the game 4-for-4, hit a two-run blast in the first inning. That was followed by a three-run shot by Fernando Valenzuela two innings later to give the visitors a 5-0 lead. It was the first of two homers on the afternoon for Valenzuela, who also hit a two-run dinger in the ninth and finished with the contest with six RBI.
The Rebels also got solo home runs from second baseman Garett Shitanishi and Peter White in the fourth and fifth inning respectively. SDSU starter Joe Carque was roughed up for eight runs over his three innings of work, taking the loss to fall to 4-3.
For his part, Rebel starting pitcher Matt Luca took up where he left off the last time he faced SDSU when he no-hit the Aztecs in Las Vegas in late March. The freshman right-hander threw five innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits and striking out five while improving to 4-0 on the season.
San Diego State scored all of its runs in the seventh inning. A leadoff single by Jake McLintock was followed by a double off the bat of Kyle Floquet. A fielder's choice by Jordan Swaydan scored McLintock, and David Hall's double down the left field line allowed Floquet to come home. Hall then scored on an RBI single by second baseman James Guerrero.
SDSU's Anthony Gwynn continued his hot hitting of late, stroking a single and double in four at bats while Kyle Floquet also had a single and two-bagger for the Aztecs.
UNLV and San Diego State conclude their three-game series on Sunday (May 4) at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. That contest can be heard live on the Internet at www.goaztecs.com.
UNLV 15, San Diego State 3UNLV 204 230 004 - 15 21 1SDSU 000 000 300 - 3 9 2Carque, Leuthard (4), Harang (5), Eigenhuis (9) and SwaydanLuca, Pupo (6), Clatterbuck (8), Lesko (9) and VanKirkW - Luca (4-0)L - Carque (4-3)Sv - NoneHR - UNLV: Dobson (1st-one on) UNLV: Valenzuela (3rd-two on) UNLV: Shitanishi (4th-none on) UNLV: White (5th-none on) UNLV: Valenzuela (9th-one on)Att. - 485Time: - 3:14