Feb. 2, 2006
HONOLULU - For the ninth time in the last 10 years, the San Diego State Aztec baseball team fell short in its season opener, this time dropping a 6-2 decision at the University of Hawai'i. It was also the season debut for the Rainbows, who got an excellent performance from starting pitcher Steven Wright along with some clutch hitting in the first meeting between the teams since the 1999 season.
Diego State got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the second inning off Wright on Joseph Scaperotta's two-run double into left center after Curt Mendoza and Jordan Swaydan had singled ahead of him.
That lead was short-lived, however, as a triple by UH's Jonathan Hee drove in Joe Spiers from second base in the bottom of the third. Hee scored on an ensuing single by Kris Sanchez to knot the score at 2-2.
SDSU starting pitcher Bruce Billings (0-1) continued to struggle, allowing single runs in each of the next two innings as Hawai'i took a lead it would not relinquish. The junior right-hander went five innings and struck out six, but his four walks were costly as three of those runners went on to score.
Wright (1-0) on the other hand, was dominating after allowing the two SDSU runs in the second. From the third through the seventh, he retired 15 of the 17 hitter he faced with the other two reaching on Rainbow errors.
The Aztecs threatened in the eighth when they trailed 4-2, putting two runners on with no outs on a walk to Scaperotta and single by Nick Romero off reliever Tyler Davis. A sacrifice bunt by Quintin Berry moved the runners up, but SDSU could not cash in. UH closer Darrell Fisherbaugh got the final out of the inning to notch the save.
San Diego State and Hawai'i continue their four-game series on Thursday (Feb. 2) at 6:35 p.m. (HST). The game can be heard live on the Internet and in San Diego on CASH 1700-AM.
Hawai'i 6, San Diego State 2SDSU 020 000 000 - 2 4 3UH 002 111 02x - 6 6 2Billings, Koons (6), and SwaydanWright, Davis (8), Fisherbaugh (8) and LopezW - Wright (2-0)L - Billings (0-1)Sv - Fisherbaugh (1)HR - NoneAtt. - 1428Time - 2:34