March 6, 2005
MOBILE, Ala. - Grant Desme's sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th inning brought home the winning run as San Diego State defeated South Alabama, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at Stanky Field in Mobile. The win brought an end to SDSU's record nine-game losing streak as it improved to 3-14. The loss was the first for the Jaguars in their last five contests as their record fell to 7-6 on the season.
The game was one which saw eight errors between the teams as South Alabama recovered from a four-run deficit to send the game into extra frames. The Jags had defeated the Aztecs in 10 innings on Friday under similar circumstances.
Andres Esquibel, who came on to begin the eighth inning, was the pitcher of record when SDSU scored the winning run as he improved to 2-4. Junior Will Miller, who pitched the bottom of the 11th, picked up his (and SDSU's) first save of the year.
San Diego State opened the game with a run in the top of the first, taking advantage of a pair of errors by South Alabama third baseman David Freese. SDSU doubled its advantage in the fourth when Lance Zawadzki connected for his first home run of the season.
The Aztecs made it a 4-0 game one inning later on a sacrifice fly by James Guerrero and a two-out RBI double by Brock Ungricht.
Aztec lefty Ben Coon, making his first start, sailed through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth when a pair of leadoff singles led to two Jaguar runs (one earned). The home side made it a one-run game with a single tally in the seventh on an RBI single by Quendon Montgomery.
San Diego State added what looked to be an insurance run in the eighth on a double by Zawadzki and an error on Jordan Swaydan's grounder to first to make it a 5-3 game. But South Alabama came back with a pair of unearned runs in their half of the inning to knot the score at 5-5 and send it to extra time.
The Jaguars had a chance to win it in the bottom of the 10th as they loaded the bases with one out. But a ground ball to Grant Desme at third led to a force out at the plate. Desme then gloved a soft line drive off the bat of Montgomery to end the threat.
SDSU's 11th inning began with a walk to Jordan Swaydan, who was replaced at first base by pinch runner Kasey Perry. Jake McLintock then executed a perfect hit and run to left, sending Perry to third and setting the stage for Desme's game-winning fly ball. The winning run came off Jaguar relief ace Chase Christianson (3-1), who lost for the first time after beating SDSU in extra innings on Friday.
Up next for the Aztecs is a short trip north on Tuesday, Mar. 8, when they will face UC Irvine at Anteater Field at 6:00 p.m.
San Diego State 6, South Alabama 5 (11 inn.)SDS 100 120 010 01 - 6 9 3SA 000 002 120 00 - 5 11 5Coon, Campbell (6), Esquibel (8). Miller (11) and Swaydan, Anderson (11)Walters, Christianson (8)and CollinsW - Esquibel (2-4)L - Christianson (3-1)Sv - Miller (1)HR - SDS: Zawadzki (1)Time - 3:21Att. - 503