March 25, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Despite having two leads, San Diego State was defeated by Pacific, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Tigers won the game after scoring four times in the last two innings.
It was Pacific (15-7) once again who came out of the gates quicker, getting the first tally on the board in the second inning. Shortstop Alex Zanini slapped a two-out RBI single to score center fielder Anthony Jackson. It was the first of three runs Jackson would score in the contest.
SDSU (6-22) took its first lead of the game in bottom of the third. The Aztecs loaded the bases when second baseman Nick Romero was hit by a pitch to bring home shortstop Lance Zawadzki. Two batters later, left fielder Paul Smyth was walked with the bases loaded to give SDSU the lead.
The lead was short-lived, as Pacific tied the game in the next frame. Following an error by Romero, first baseman Brett Manning hit a single to right field to score designated hitter Matt Berezay.
Right fielder Curt Mendoza smacked his fourth home run of the season in the seventh inning to break the tie. The solo shot gave the Aztecs their second lead of the game at 3-2.
A three-run rally in the eighth inning gave Pacific the lead for good. A sacrifice fly off the bat of John Devany tied the game. Three batters later, second baseman Adam Ching lined a two-out, two-run single to left field. The Tigers added one more run in the ninth inning, when Jackson scored his third run of the game after stealing third and a throwing error by catcher Jordan Swaydan allowed him to score.
Junior Bruce Billings got the start for the Aztecs. He threw five complete, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and he struck out seven. Adam Simon suffered the loss, dropping his record to 0-4. Billings, Simon and the third Aztec pitcher in the game, Justin Lynch, had a combined 14 strikeouts.
Joey Centanni earned the win for the Tigers. Centanni (2-0) threw seven complete, giving up three runs on four hits and striking out three.
SDSU returns to Tony Gwynn Stadium tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the third game of the weekend series against Pacific.