March 9, 2004
NORTHRIDGE, CALIF. - CSU Northridge scored four times in the bottom of the ninth as it rallied to defeat San Diego State, 10-9, Tuesday afternoon at Matador Field. The loss came at the expense of closer Ryan Schroyer who gave up all four runs on two walks, two doubles and a home run after coming on to start the final frame.
The loss dropped SDSU to 9-15 on the year and ended its short two-game win streak. Northridge, meanwhile, improved to 9-12 as it won for the third time in its last four games.
After jumping out to a 2-0 lead after three innings, the Aztecs saw CSN get back into the game with three in its half of the fourth. However, SDSU responded by putting together a five-run rally in the sixth that was capped off by Jake McLintock's two-run homer, his first of the season.
After the Matadors closed the score to 7-4 with a single run in the bottom of the sixth, SDSU opened a five-run lead with a pair in the seventh courtesy of Lance Zawadzki's two-run double. Zawadzki finished the afternoon with five hits including three doubles, a feat that tied the Aztec record for most two-baggers in a game. A trio of Aztecs including McLintock, James Guerrero and Reilly Embrey contributed two hits apiece to SDSU's offensive effort on the afternoon.
CSN fought back with a pair of runs off reliever Jeff Teasley in the eighth to make it a 9-4 ball game and set the stage for the home side's ninth-inning rally.
The big blow in the final frame was a two-run homer by John Voita that tied the game at 9-9. That was followed by a walk to Erik Hagstrom and a two-out double by catcher Alberto Quintana that scored the winning run all the way from first base.
Matador reliever Phil Polanco benefited for his teammates' heroics, picking up the win to improve to 2-1 after pitching a scoreless top of the ninth. SDSU's Schroyer suffered the loss and saw his record drop to 2-3 on the season.
Up next for the Aztecs is the opener of the 2004 Aztec Invitational at PETCO Park, the long-awaited debut of the San Diego Padres' new downtown ballpark. SDSU will face Houston in that inaugural contest on Thursday, March 11, at 7:00 p.m.
CSU Northridge 10, San Diego State 9SDS 101 005 200 - 9 13 0CSN 000 301 024 - 10 9 5Billings, Zink (4), Coon (7), Teasley (8), Schroyer (9) and SwaydanRocchio, Brettl (4), Eberhardt (6), Camacho (6), Campbell (7), Polanco (9) and QuintanaW - Polanco (2-1)L - Schroyer (2-3)Sv - NoneHR - SDS: McLintock (6th-one on) CSN: Perez (6th-none on), Voita (9th-one on)Att. - 114Time - 3:25