March 5, 2005
MOBLIE, Ala. - South Alabama set season highs in runs and hits as it defeated San Diego State, 16-8, Saturday afternoon at Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala. The Jaguars roughed up five SDSU pitchers for 18 hits as they won their third straight to improve to 7-5. The Aztecs (2-14) lost for the ninth straight time, and they have yet to record a road in nine attempts this season.
SDSU found itself down early as South Alabama's leadoff hitter, Tyler Jones, opened the game with a solo home run off SDSU starter Alex Hinshaw. Before the inning was over, the Aztecs trailed by three runs as two singles, a walk, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly plated two more runs.
San Diego State scored a run in its half of the third on a double by Jordan Swaydan that was followed by a passed ball and a wild pitch by Jaguar starter Tommie Major. Major (1-0) went six innings, allowing a pair of runs on three hits while striking out six to record his first win of the season.
South Alabama increased its lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the same inning, scoring a pair of runs off Aztec hurler Joel Matthews, who had relieved Hinshaw to start the third.
SDSU made it a 5-2 game in the fourth on a triple by Grant Desme and double by James Guerrero, but that's as close the it would get the rest of the day as the home team added four runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the sixth to take a 12-2 lead.
San Diego State tried to get back into the game in its half of the seventh scoring five times on seven hits to close the gap to 12-7. The Aztecs got RBI singles from Jordan Swaydan, Quintin Berry, James Guerrero and Brock Ungricht plus a sacrifice fly from Curt Mendoza in the inning.
However, the Jaguars scored twice in both the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to pull away as SDSU could manage just one more consolation run in the final frame.
Grant Desme (triple, single), James Guerrero (double, single) and Jordan Swaydan (double, single) all finished the day with two hits apiece for the Aztecs with Guerrero recording a team-high two RBI. Shortstop Lance Zawadzki saw his 12-game hitting streak come to an end as he went hitless in three at bats.
San Diego State and South Alabama conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon (Mar. 6) at 1:00 p.m. (CST) at Stanky Field.
South Alabama 16, San Diego State 8SDS 001 100 501 - 8 12 2SA 302 403 22x - 16 18 0Hinshaw, Matthews (3), Suwyn (4), Ybarra (6), Bruckart (7) and Swaydan, Anderson (7)Major, Middleton (7), Petersen (7) and Collins, Nichols (6)W - Major (1-0)L - Hinshaw (0-4)Sv - NoneHR - SA: Jones (1)Time: 3:08Att. - 641