May 21, 2004
SALT LAKE CITY - Aztec pitchers Daryl Harang and Ben Coon combined to limit Utah to one unearned run on six hits while striking out nine as San Diego State defeated the Utes, 7-1, Friday night at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. It was the fourth win in a row for SDSU, which improved to 32-27 over and 18-9 in the Mountain West Conference.
The victory kept alive the possibility of San Diego State winning the regular-season league title. With one game remaining, the Aztecs can still finish anywhere from first to third, an important consideration as the first and second-place teams receive a bye in the first round of next week's Mountain West Conference tournament.
On Friday, SDSU got off to a quick start, scoring a run in the first on back-to-back doubles by Rielly Embrey and Brock Ungricht. However, that lead was short-lived as Utah (21-33, 11-18 MWC) scored an unearned run in the third off Aztec starter Daryl Harang.
Harang, who picked up the win to improve to 6-5, went six innings, allowing three hits while striking out eight.
San Diego State broke the tie in its next at bat, scoring twice thanks to a pair of bases-loaded walks by Ute starter Doug Mackay (4-8) to Landon Burt and James Guerrero. The visitors added to their lead on an RBI double by Josh Hill in the seventh and a solo home run by James Guerrero in the eighth to make it a 5-1 game.
SDSU tacked on two more in the final frame on RBI singles by Jordan Swaydan and Chad Corona.
Ben Coon, who had come on to start the seventh, pitched three innings of scoreless ball to record his first save of the season. Outfielder Josh Hill led the Aztec offense with two hits including a double, run scored and RBI.
The Aztecs and Utes conclude their three-game series on Saturday (May 22) at noon. An Aztec win coupled with a New Mexico win would give SDSU the MWC regular-season title while an Aztec victory or loss plus a UNM loss would see the Aztecs finish second. An SDSU loss and a New Mexico win would mean a third-place finish for San Diego State.
San Diego State 7, Utah 1SDSU 100 200 112 - 7 11 1Utah 001 000 000 - 1 6 1Harang, Coon (7) and SwaydanMackay, McCord (6) and EastmanW - Harang (6-5)L - Mackay (4-8)Sv - Coon (1)HR - SDSU: Guerrero (4)Att. - 209Time - 2:58