Feb. 15, 2004
Santa Clara, Calif. - Aztec senior right-hander Chris Hartshorn allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out four as San Diego State defeated Santa Clara, 4-0, at Buck Shaw Stadium Sunday afternoon. In pitching the complete-game shutout, Hartshorn faced only two batters over the minimum as he improved his record to 3-1 and lowered his team-leading earned run average to 2.54.
The Aztecs (6-8) also got some excellent defensive play to aid Hartshorn along the way. In the opening inning, the Broncos had a runner on second with two outs when Nic Crosta hit a line drive deep into the left center gap. Aztec center fielder Landon Burt raced to his right and made a full out diving catch to rob Crosta of an RBI double. SDSU also turned inning-ending double plays in both the fifth and eighth to snuff out any potential threat.
San Diego State got on the board with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. With two outs, Jordan Swaydan and Jake McLintock drew back-to-back walks, and left fielder Curt Mendoza followed with an RBI single up the middle to bring home Swaydan. McLintock scored shortly thereafter on a wild pitch.
The Aztecs added to their lead with a run in the seventh when Garrett Changnon scored on a wild pitch. Changnon had come on as a pinch runner for third baseman Ryan Wilson, who had been hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
SDSU's final run came on a single by McLintock that plated freshman Brock Ungricht, who had walked, stolen second base, had advanced to third on a fielder's choice. Ungricht had a pair of hits on the day as his hitting streak reached 13 games.
For Santa Clara (5-3), freshman starter Jared Hughes (0-1) went five innings, absorbing the loss, his first on the year. Hughes allowed two runs on three hits and struck out five.
San Diego State will now prepare to play in the Public Storage Classic at USC next weekend. The Aztecs' first game in that tournament will be against Notre Dame on Friday, Feb. 20, at 2:00 p.m. at USC's Dedeaux Field. SDSU will also face Louisville and the host Trojans during the three-day event.
San Diego State 4, Santa Clara 0SDS 000 200 110 - 4 5 0SCU 000 000 000 - 0 3 1Hartshorn and UngrichtHughes, Van Buskirk (6), Rea (7) and McColgan, Mandley (9)W - Hartshorn (3-1)L - Hughes (0-1)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 637Time - 2:37