March 20, 2005
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State combined solid pitching with some timely hitting as it defeated Utah, 5-3, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win, SDSU captured the rubber game of its Mountain West Conference season-opening series as it improved to 7-17 overall and 2-1 in league play. Utah saw its record fall of 7-13 (1-2 MWC).
Aztec junior left-hander Ben Coon (1-1) made his third start of the season his best yet as he went seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five to pick up the win. Reliever Cody Campbell came on to pitch two scoreless innings, striking out three of the seven batters he faced. In the process recorded his first save of the year.
San Diego State opened the scoring with three runs in the second frame off Utah starter Bryce Freed (1-2). After Tim O'Brien led off with a walk, Jordan Swaydan's grounder to Freed was thrown away at second base to put two runners on with no outs. Jake McLintock then followed with a two-run triple to center field, and he in turn scored on second baseman Kevin Perry's single to right center.
The visitors made it a 3-2 game by scoring single runs in both the third and fourth innings. A two-out balk by Coon allowed Joe Mozeleski to score from third for the first run, and an RBI single by first baseman Trevor Eastman brought home the Ute's second tally.
The Aztecs answered back with a pair of runs in their half of the fourth to take a 5-2 lead. A throwing error on an infield single by McLintock scored O'Brien, who had led off the inning with a walk. Lance Zawadzki then doubled to score McLintock for SDSU's final run of the day.
Utah's third run came in the sixth on a walk to designated hitter Jay Brossman, who advanced to second on a long fly ball to left center field. Brossman scored on Mike Tummolo's two-out single to make it a 5-3 contest, but that marked the end of the day's run production for both teams.
SDSU's Jake McLintock finished the afternoon with a pair of hits (triple, single), two RBI and a pair of runs scored while Lance Zawadzki also chipped in with two hits (single, double) and an RBI.
Up next for the Aztecs is the team's first conference road swing of the season as they travel to Colorado Springs to take on Air Force in a three-game series starting Thursday (Mar. 24) at 2:00 p.m. (MST) at Falcon Field.
San Diego State 5, Utah 3Utah 001 101 000 - 3 8 2SDSU 030 200 000 - 5 7 1Freed, Lane (4), Bailey (7), Cooper (7) and FrankCoon, Campbell (8) and SwaydanW - Coon (1-1)L - Freed (1-2)Sv - Campbell (1)HR - NoneTime - 2:33Att. - 879