May 11, 2004
SAN DIEGO - Jordan Swaydan singled home Josh Hill from third base as San Diego State overcame a one-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth and defeated California, 6-5, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win was SDSU's fourth in its last five outings as it improved to 28-26 on the year. The Golden Bears saw their record dip to 24-28.
Cal, which had not played since May 2, opened the contest with its top pitcher, Adam Gold, on the mound. San Diego State countered with freshman Brett Douglas, who was given his first starting assignment of the season.
The visitors struck first, scoring twice in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by center fielder David Weiner and an RBI triple by catcher Garrett Bussiere. But the Aztecs wasted little time in leveling the score at 2-2 with two of their own in the bottom of the inning.
Douglas continued to struggle in the next frame as the Golden Bears picked up two more runs to take a 4-2 lead. From there, the Aztecs worked to even the score, getting a run in the fourth on Landon Burt's two-out RBI single, then tying the game with Curt Mendoza's solo home run in the sixth.
Ben Coon, who came on to start the third inning on the mound for SDSU, kept the Cal offense in check over his six innings of work, walking one and striking out five. However, he was touched up for the go-ahead run in the eighth when pinch hitter Jeremy Burchett hit a two-out double followed by a run-scoring single from second baseman Matt Einspahr.
Heading to the bottom of the final inning with a 5-4 lead, Cal had closer Jesse Ingram, who entered the contest with nine saves and a 2.87 earned run average, on the mound.
With one out in the ninth, Lance Zawadzki single up the middle and gave way to Sam Pepper, who pinch ran for the Aztec second baseman. Senior Josh Hill then came up and blasted a triple to right center field that allowed Pepper to score from first with the tying run. With the infield in, Jordan Swaydan then hit a sharp ground ball that Cal shortstop Jeff Dragicevich was only just able to get a glove on as the ball trickled into left field to bring home the winning run.
Senior right-hander Joey Pace, who had come on in relief of Coon in the top of the ninth, picked up his first win as an Aztec to improve to 1-0 on the year. Ingram suffered the loss to fall to 0-3.
First baseman Rielly Embrey had four hits in five trips to the plate while Landon Burt had three hits, a run scored and an RBI.
Action continues at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Wednesday night (May 12) as the Aztecs begin a three-game Mountain West Conference series against Brigham Young with game time set for 6:00 p.m.
San Diego State 6, California 5CAL 220 000 010 - 5 14 3SDS 200 101 002 - 6 14 2Gold, Swanson (6), Ingram (8) and BussiereDouglas, Coon (3), Pace (9) and SwaydanW - Pace (1-0)L - Ingram (0-3)Sv - NoneHR - SDS: Mendoza (3)Att. - 402Time - 3:06