Jan. 31, 2004
San Diego - Sacramento State scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to break and 8-8 deadlock as the Hornet went on to defeat San Diego State, 10-8, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Hornets benefited from four Aztecs errors on the afternoon to score seven unearned runs en route to the victory. With the win, they remained perfect on the young season at 2-0 while the Aztecs fell to 3-4.
Just like the night before, Sac State broke on top with a big inning, only to see SDSU tie the score in the bottom of the same frame. This time the Hornets scored four unearned runs in the top of the second off Aztec starter Ben Coon, who was victimized for six unearned runs before leaving the contest after five innings.
The Aztecs responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second, getting RBI singles from Curt Mendoza and James Guerrero plus a two-run homer by Chad Corona.
Again, just like the previous game, the Aztecs then took a lead, this time with a pair of runs in the third on an RBI double by corona and run-scoring single by second baseman Sam Pepper.
However, Sacramento State responded by outscoring SDSU 3-1 over the next three innings to knot the score at 7-7, and took the lead with a run in the top of the seventh. Reliever J.T. Zink loaded the base on a double, hit batter and a walk, leaving the game with two out in the inning. Senior lefty Daryl Harang was called upon to get the final out of the inning, but issued a walk to Craig Johnson to bring home the go-ahead run.
The Aztecs came back to tie the score in their half of the eighth when Jake McLintock's double scored Guerrero, who had been hit by a pitch to open the inning.
The Hornets' ninth-inning scoring begin with a solo home run by left fielder Jim Strombach off Harang, who took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the season. They added an insurance run on a two-out RBI single by third baseman John Acha.
Sac State senior right-hander Andy Mohr was the beneficiary of the Hornets' ninth-inning runs, picking up his first win of the year. Billy Sinacori pitched the bottom of the ninth to record his second save in two days.
SDSU freshman Brock Ungricht led all batters with three hit6s on the afternoon while Sam Pepper, making his first career start, had a pair of singles, a runs scored and an RBI.
The Hornets and Aztecs conclude their three-game series on Sunday when they square off at noon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Sacramento State 10, San Diego State 8CSUS 040 201 102 - 10 11 0SDSU 042 100 010 - 9 11 4Coon, Zink (6), Harang (7) and SwaydanRosebrock, Wheeler (3), Mols (5), Mohr (7), Sinacori (9) and MoralesW - Mohr (1-0)L - Harang (0-1)Sv - Sinacori (2)HR: SDSU: Corona (2nd-one on) CSUS: Strombach (9th-none on)Att. - 731Time - 333