March 17, 2006
LOS ANGELES - For the third time in a row, San Diego State fell behind by a large margin early and was unable to make up the difference, this time falling to UCLA by a score of 14-6 Friday night at Jackie Robinson Stadium. The loss was the eighth straight for the Aztecs, who fell to 6-18. The win allowed the bruins to improved their record to 13-11.
Aztec starting pitcher Justin Masterson struggled from the start, allowing two runs in the first inning to the Bruins on a two-run homer by left fielder Bruce Dunlap. It was the first of two homers off Masterson on the evening for UCLA, which also added a pair of triples and double off the SDSU junior right-hander, who saw his record fall to 2-4 as he allowed nine runs on 10 hits while striking out six over five innings.
UCLA's Hector Ambriz, meanwhile, was holding the Aztecs scoreless over the first five innings on five hits. Ambriz went a total of eight innings, striking out eight as he improved to 4-3 on the year. Ambriz also proved a threat at the plate as the Bruin's designated hitter, going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI and three runs socred.
SDSU ended UCLA's shutout bid with a run in the sixth as Tom O'Brien's RBI single followed a single by shortstop Nick Romero and a walk to third baseman Lance Zawadzki to make it a 9-1 ball game.
However, the Bruins added five runs in the bottom of the same inning to put the outcome of the contest beyond doubt. All five runs came off Aztec redshirt freshman reliever Charles Nolte, who allowed three hits and a pair of walks. The big blow was a three-run homer off the bat of third baseman Brett McMillan that gave the home side a 14-1 lead.
San Diego State made the final score somewhat respectable a it rallied for five runs in its final at bat, sending 10 men to the plate against a pair of Bruin relievers. During that ninth inning rally, Paul Smyth had a two-run double and Curt Mendoza had a run-scoring double while Jordan Swaydan and Romero added RBI singles.
Romero finished the night with a team-leading three hits while Smyth and Mendoza had two apiece. Hurlers Ronnie Lindsey and Jared Suwyn provided a bright spot for the SDSU pitching staff as they held the Bruins hitless over the final 2.1 innings while striking out three.
San Diego State and UCLA continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday (March 18) at 2:00 p.m. There will be no Internet broadcast of that contest.
UCLA 14, San Diego State 6SDSU 000 001 005 - 6 11 0UCLA 202 145 00x - 14 13 2Masterson, Nolte (6), Lindsey (6), Suwyn (8) and SwaydanAmbriz, Dickmann (9), Miltenbreger (9) and Barbineau, Ray (7)W - Ambriz (4-3)L - Masterson (2-4)Sv - NoneHR - UCLA: Dunlap (1), McMillan (5), Smith (3)Att: - 244Time - 3:16