March 18, 2005
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State opened its 2005 Mountain West Conference season with a 9-3 win over Utah at Tony Gwynn Stadium Friday evening. It marked the sixth consecutive year that SDSU had opened league play at home and the sixth straight time it recorded a win in its league season debut.
The win was San Diego State's fourth in its last six outings as it improved to 6-16 overall and 1-0 in the MWC. Utah, meanwhile, dropped its fourth in a row to fall to 6-12 (0-1 MWC).
The final score was not indicative of the closeness of the contest, as the Aztecs twice took the lead only to see the Utes battle back to tie the score. SDSU got another excellent pitching performance from sophomore Bruce Billings, who went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out eight to even his record at 2-2. Freshman Andres Esquibel went the final two innings to record his second save of the year.
SDSU broke on top with a run in the first on a leadoff double by Quintin Berry, a wild pitch and an infield groundout by Garrick Evans.
After giving up the run in the top of the opening fame, Utah starting pitcher Jason Price (1-4) retired 13 of the next 14 batters, not giving up another hit until Kevin Perry's two-out single in the fifth.
The visitors knotted the score in the sixth when Doug Beck's popup in the infield fell untouched for a double and he advanced to base on an infielder groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Jay Brossman.
The Aztecs regained the lead on Tim O'Brien's two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, only to see the Utes tie the game at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the next inning. However, SDSU rallied for two runs in its half of the seventh thanks in part to some heads up base running by second baseman Kevin Perry.
With one out and Perry on second and Quintin Berry at first, pinch hitter James Scott hit a potential double play grounder to short. Berry was out at second, but Scott was safe at first, and Perry scored from second base on the play. James Guerrero's two-run double scored the second run of the inning.
The Aztecs put the game away with four more in the eighth on a two-RBI single by Brock Ungricht at run-scoring singles by Kasey Perry and Guerrero.
James Guerrero led the SDSU offense with three hits including a double, triple and two runs batted in. Brock Ungricht and Tim O'Brien had two hits and a pair of RBI apiece while Quintin Berry also had two singles and scored twice.
The Utes and Aztecs continue their three-game series on Saturday (Mar. 19) at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 9, Utah 3Utah 000 001 200 - 3 9 1SDSU 100 002 24x - 9 13 2Price, Lance (7) and EastmanBillings, Esquibel (8) and SwaydanW - Billings (2-2)L - Price (1-4)Sv - Esquibel (2)HR - SDS: O'Brien (3)Time - 2:52Att. - 569