May 27, 2004
LAS VEGAS - Aztec senior right-hander Scott Shoemaker showed why he was named the Mountain West Conference Pitcher of the Year as he tossed a complete-game three-hit shutout as SDSU opened MWC Tournament play with an 8-0 win over Utah at Earl Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. Third baseman Chad Corona provided the offensive spark for the Aztecs, going 3-for-3 with a double, home run and three RBI.
The victory was SDSU's sixth straight as it improved to 34-27 and moved into the winners' bracket game against host UNLV on Friday at 3:00 p.m. The Utes, meanwhile, saw their record fall to 22-35 as they await the winner of Thursday night's elimination game between Air Force and New Mexico.
As good as Shoemaker was, Utah starter Doug Mackay matched him over the first four innings, not allowing a hit while striking out six. However, Corona changed that when he led off the bottom of the fifth with a towering 425-foot home run over the center field fence, providing the first run as well as the first hit of the game.
The Aztecs built on that lead in the next frame, scoring three times to take a 4-0 lead. Inning-opening singles by James Guerrero and Rielly Embrey were followed by a sacrifice fly by Brock Ungricht. After a single by Josh Hill, Corona sent a double off the left field wall to bring home two runs.
Shoemaker, who walked one and struck out five on the afternoon, carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Ute outfielder Matt Ciaramella lined a single to left.
SDSU tacked on four runs in the bottom of the seventh to put the game away. Landon Burt led off the inning with a single and scored two batters later on a triple to center off the bat of Embrey. Lance Zawadzki's two-out single brought Embrey home, and that was followed by Josh Hill's two-run homer to right center.
Utah did not advance a runner to second base until the ninth inning when it got a pair of one-out singles from Trevor Eastman and Ryan Khoury. However, Shoemaker then induced Jay Brossman to hit into a game-ending double play to secure the victory as he improved to 9-6 on the season. Utah's Doug Mackay took the loss to fall to 4-9.
If San Diego State wins its contest against UNLV on Friday, it will advance to Saturday's 3:00 p.m. championship contest. A loss to the Rebels would see the Aztecs face the winner of the Friday morning game at 7:00 p.m. that evening for a spot in the title game.
San Diego State 8, Utah 0Utah 000 000 000 - 0 3 1SDSU 000 013 40x - 8 10 0Mackay, Buck (7), McCord (7), Florence (9) and EastmanShoemaker and SwaydanW - Shoemaker (9-6)L - Mackay (4-9)Sv - NoneHR - SDSU: Corona (7), Hill (4)Att. - 381Time - 2:10