Feb. 21, 2004
Los Angeles - Louisville scored 16 times over the final four innings and as it defeated San Diego State, 19-6, at the Public Storage Classic being played at USC's Dedeaux field this weekend. Five defensive miscues over the course of the contest contributed to the Aztecs' downfall. SDSU was also unable to cash in on its opportunities, leaving 15 runners stranded over the course of the game including eight over the first four innings.
It was the Aztecs' second loss in two days at the tournament as they saw their record fall to 6-10. Louisville, meanwhile, evened its ledger at 1-1.
After the Cardinals opened the contest with a pair of runs in the first, SDSU answered back, tying the game in its half of the thirds. RBI singles by Brandon Rauch and Clay Coulter enabled the Aztecs to knot the score at 2-2.
Louisville regained the lead in the next inning, scoring an unearned run on an errant throw to first base with two outs by shortstop James Guerrero. It added four more unearned runs in the sixth, helped by a pair of Aztec errors in the inning, to take a 7-2 lead.
San Diego State tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring twice on an RBI single by Landon Burt and a sacrifice fly off the bat of James Guerrero to narrow the deficit to 7-4.
However, the Cardinals batted around in both the sixth and eighth innings, then sent 11 men to the plate in the final frame. The big blow in the final inning was a grand slam by third baseman Ryan McKinnon.
Aztec starter Daryl Harang tossed a solid five innings, leaving the contest after five innings trailing 3-2. But the SDSU bullpen was unable to keep the Cardinal offense in check as Louisville starter Justin Valdes (1-0) went the first four innings and was credited with the win.
Three Cardinal pitchers gave up 11 walks on the day, with five of the resulting Aztec base runners scoring. SDSU hurlers issued 12 walks on the afternoon with five of those Cardinal runners coming around to score.
Aztec catcher Clay Coulter was the lone SDSU player with more than two hits, collecting a pair of singles including the single in the third that knotted the score at 2-2. Freshman Brock Ungricht, whose 13-game hitting streak came to an end in the loss to Notre Dame on Friday, drew four bases on balls and scored a pair of runs.
San Diego State concludes play at the Public Storage Classic on Sunday (Feb. 22) when it faces host USC at 2:00 p.m.
Louisville 19, San Diego State 6LOU 200 104 237 - 19 15 1SDS 002 002 110 - 6 8 5Harang, Coon (6), Zink (7), Esparza (8) and Coulter, Wilson (7)Valdes, Cruse (5), Lynn (6), Meade and Jurich, Payton (9)W - Lynn (1-0)L - Harang (1-2)Sv - NoneHR - LOU: Jurich (8th-none on), McKinnon (9th-three on)Att. - 175Time - 3:55