March 14, 2004
SAN DIEGO - Nebraska scored three times in the top of the fifth to erase a one-run deficit and go on to a 6-2 victory over San Diego State in the finale of the 2004 Aztec Invitational at PETCO Park. With the win, the Huskers improved to 8-4 on the season while the Aztecs dropped to 10-17. A total paid attendance of 20,737 for the day brought the four-day total to 105,500 fans who visited the Padres new ballpark during the four-day event.
SDSU broke on top early, getting a run in the first off Nebraska starter (and eventual winner) Phil Shirek (2-0). Lance Zawadzki singled with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Rielly Embrey's single to center.
After the Huskers knotted the score with a run in the top of the third, SDSU answered back with one of their own in the bottom half of that inning. This time it was Embrey who drew a one-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Jake McLintock's two-out RBI single.
In the fifth, Nebraska scored three runs off SDSU starter Chris Hartshorn on three singles and double as it sent 11 men to the plate and took a 4-2 lead. Hartshorn, who left the game after allowing the four runs over 4.1 innings, took the loss to fall to 4-3.
The visitors tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth, with one run scoring on a throwing error and a second on a squeeze bunt.
Lance Zawadzki and Jake McLintock had two hits apiece for the Aztecs who were unable to generate any sustained offense against Shirk and reliever Tim Schoeninger, who went the final 2.1 innings to record his first save.
San Diego State now has four days to prepare for its Mountain West Conference opener as it hosts Air Force in a three-game series this weekend. Game one of that set is slated for Friday, March 19, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Nebraska 6, San Diego State 2NEB 001 030 002 - 6 11 0SDS 100 100 000 - 2 9 4Shirek, Schoeninger (7) and GroseHartshorn, Jenson (5), Zink (8), Coon (8), Schroyer (8) and SwaydanW - Shirek (2-0)L - Hartshorn (4-3)Sv - Schoeninger (1)HR - noneAtt. - 20, 737 (Total paid for the day)Time - 3:11