April 23, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State took advantage two Utah errors to score all of its runs in a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Utes Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win moved SDSU to within a game of the .500 mark at 21-22 as it took over second place in the Mountain West Conference with a 10-4 record. Utah saw its season ledger drop to 10-23 overall and 3-10 in league play.
The visitors broke on top in the opening inning when center field Matt Ciaramella connected for home run, his eighth of the year, off SDSU starting pitcher Scott Shoemaker. The Utes doubled their lead in the top of the third, this time on a Ciaramella double that scored Jay Brossman, who had singled, from first base.
The Aztecs finally got on the board in their half of the fourth courtesy of a Ute throwing error. With runners on first and third and one out, Lance Zawadzki hit a grounder to Brossman at third base. His throw to second got one out, but Jared Pena's relay to first to complete the double play sailed over first baseman John Welsh, allowing a run to score.
SDSU took its first lead of the evening in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a second Utah miscue with two outs. With Zawadzki and Brock Ungricht occupying first and second after drawing walks, Chad Corona hit a high pop fly to first that was dropped by Welsh, allowing both runners to score.
Shoemaker, who pitched to two batters in the seventh, was credited with the win as he picked up his sixth straight victory to improve to 7-5. The senior from San Diego allowed two earned runs on six hits and struck out six over his 6.2 innings. Drew Jenson finished out the seventh and eighth innings before Ryan Schroyer was called upon to close out the game, pitching a perfect ninth to notch his eighth save of the year.
Utah's Jason Price was the hard luck loser as he saw his record fall to 2-6. The senior lefty allowed just four hits and struck out seven over 6.1 innings pitched.
Catcher Jordan Swaydan had a pair of singles with Jake McLintock and David Hall recording the Aztecs' other two hits (both singles).
Utah and San Diego State continue their three-game series on Saturday (April 24) with game time set for 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 3, Utah 2Utah 101 000 000 - 2 6 3SDSU 000 102 00x - 3 4 0Price, McCord (7) and EastmanShoemaker, Jenson (7), Schroyer (9) and SwaydanW - Shoemaker (7-5)L - Price (2-6)Sv - Schroyer (8)HR - Utah: Ciaramella (8)Att. - 568Time - 2:40