March 8, 2005
IRVINE, Calif. - San Diego State scored eight times from the third through fifth innings and three pitchers limited UC Irvine to five hits as the Aztecs defeated the Anteaters, 8-6, Tuesday night in Irvine. The win was the second straight for SDSU as it improved to 4-14 on the season while UCI fell to 9-7.
UCI opened the scoring in their first at bat as center fielder Erik Johnson singled, advanced to second on a ground out to first, and went to third on a wild pitch. He came home on a sacrifice fly by third baseman Matt Anderson to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
The Aztecs came back with to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the third, courtesy of a three-run homer by Garrick Evans off eventual losing pitcher Michael Koehler (1-2). After Jake McLintock and Grant Desme singled to open the inning and were moved up a base by Quentin Berry's sacrifice bunt, Evans hit a 2-2 pitch deep over the left field fence for his second home run of the year.
After the Anteaters scored a run in their half of the third on a pair of walks and two SDSU errors, the Aztecs extended their lead to 6-2 in the fourth with RBI's provided by a Tim O'Brien's double and singles by Jordan Swaydan and Quentin Berry
UC Irvine scored a single run once again in its half of the fourth, but San Diego State answered with two more in the next frame to make it an 8-3 contest. After Guerrero opened the inning with a single, Brock Ungricht was hit by pitch and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. With one out, Tim O'Brien laid down a bunt that Irvine first baseman Stewart threw wildly to home, allowing Guerrero and Ungricht to score.
SDSU freshman left James Scott (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing three runs on just two hits up to that point, but after walking the first two batters in the sixth, he was removed in favor of reliever Brett Douglas. A walk, sacrifice fly and double steal allowed the Anteaters to score twice and narrow the Aztec lead to 8-5.
Douglas went three innings, coming out of the game after walking the leadoff batter to begin the bottom of the ninth. He was replaced by Andres Esquibel, who loaded the bases before inducing a ground out to second, strikeout and ground out to first to preserve the win and pick up his first save of the year.
Quentin Berry, James Guerrero and Tim O'Brian had two hits apiece to pace the Aztec offense while Evan's home run accounted for a team-high three RBI.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game series with cross-town rival University of San Diego beginning Friday, Mar. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 8, UC Irvine 6SDS 003 320 000 - 8 11 2UCI 101 101 000 - 6 5 1Scott, Douglas (6) and SwaydanCassel, Koehler (3), Robertson (4), Schroer (5), Erickson (9) and Lowenstein, Wagner (7)W - Scott (1-1)L - Koehler (1-2)Sv - Esquibel (1)HR - SDS: Evans (2)Time - 3:25Att. - 532