May 8, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY - Grant Desme's two-out two-RBI double in the top of the 10th inning drove home the winning runs as San Diego State defeated Utah, 11-8, Sunday afternoon at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. The game was SDSU's fourth extra-inning affair in its last five outings and the second of the weekend series with the Utes.
In a game that saw five lead changes and six pitchers between the two teams, it was SDSU's Will Miller who stood out. The junior right-hander threw three perfect innings to close out the contest and pick up his first win of the season.
In completing the three-game sweep of Utah, San Diego State improved to 21-28 overall and 15-9 in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes meanwhile dropped to 17-28 (9-15 in league play).
In the opening inning, the Aztecs came out swinging, scoring five times on three hits. The big blow was a two-out three-run homer by Curt Mendoza. It was the junior left fielder's second of the weekend and fifth of the season, tying him for the team lead.
However, the Utes had ideas of their own as they scored twice in the first and added four in the fourth off SDSU starter Ben Coon to take a 6-5 lead.
San Diego State regained the lead in the fifth as Lance Zawadzki doubled home Brock Ungricht and Jake McLintock, who had reached base on a walk and a double respectively with two outs.
Trailing 7-6, the home side went on top once again, scoring twice in the bottom of the same inning on a two-out two-RBI single by shortstop Ryan Khoury.
SDSU tied the contest at 8-8 in the top of the eighth as James Guerrero led off with a triple to center field and scored on McLintock's sacrifice fly.
After throwing 143 pitches, Utah starter Jason Price was lifted after nine complete innings with the score tied. His long-distance effort went unrewarded as he was not involved in the decision. Instead, the Utes brought on reliever Josh Madsen (0-1) in the 10th, and he was tagged for the deciding runs.
In the 10th, singles by Tim O'Brien and Jordan Swaydan put runners on first and second with two outs, setting the stage for Desme's game-winning hit. Quintin Berry followed with another double, his second of the afternoon and third of his three hits, to make it an 11-8 game.
In addition to Berry, McLintock also had a pair of doubles while Guerrero, Mendoza and Zawadzki collected two hits apiece on the day.
Up next for the Aztecs is a non-league contest as they host 22nd-ranked USC on Tuesday (May 10) at 7:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 11, Utah 8 (10 inn.)SDSU 500 020 100 3 - 11 14 3Utah 200 420 000 0 - 8 10 2Coon, Matthews (4), Miller (8) and SwaydanPrice, Madsen (10), Bailey (10) and FrankW - Miller (1-3)L - Madsen (0-1)Sv - NoneHR - SDSU: Mendoza (5)Time - 3:10Att. - 189