April 27, 2004
San Diego State got a pair of solo home runs from James Guerrero and a two-run blast from Jake McLintock as it powered past Loyola Marymount, 7-4, Tuesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Guerrero's homers were his first and second of the season as the sophomore shortstop had three hits and scored three times in the Aztec victory.
SDSU (22-24) jumped on top early with a run in the first inning off LMU on a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. Landon Burt led off the frame with a single and went to third when Guerrero executed a hit and run to the right side of the infield. Rielly Embrey's fly to right field allowed Burt to score easily from third to give the home side the early advantage.
The Lions knotted the score at 1-1 in their half of the third, but the score didn't remain tied for long. In the bottom of the inning, Guerrero hit a one-out home run to give SDSU a lead it would not relinquish. Three batters later, McLintock brought home Brock Ungricht, who had doubled ahead of him, with his third homer of the season to make it a 4-1 game.
After Loyola Marymount got a run back in the top of the next inning, Guerrero's second round-tripper in the fifth extended the Aztecs' lead to 5-2. However, the Lions weren't done as they scored twice in the seventh to close to within a run at 5-4. But the Aztecs responded with a pair of their own in the bottom of the inning with the help of an LMU error and an RBI single by Ungricht, who ended his night with three hits.
Aztec freshman right-hander Bruce Billings, making his fourth start of the year, went six innings, allowing two runs while striking out five to improve to 2-1. Senior Ryan Schroyer pitched a perfect ninth inning to record his ninth save as he moved into a tie for fourth on the SDSU single-season save list. LMU's Matthew Cova, the first of seven pitcher utilized by the Lions, allowed SDSU's first four runs, taking the loss to fall to 1-2.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game Mountain West Conference series with league-leading New Mexico starting Friday night (April 30) at 6;00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 7, Loyola Marymount 4LMU 001 100 200 - 4 11 1SDS 103 010 20x - 7 10 1Cova, Creighton (4), Macias (4), Feaser (5), Bueno (7), Jenson (7), Reyes (8) and HigashiBillings, Pace (7), Zink (8), Schroyer (9) and SwaydanW - Billings (2-1)L - Cova (1-2)Sv - Schroyer (9)HR - LMU: Oller (5) SDS: Guerrero-2 (2), McLintock (3)Att. - 359Time - 3:06