April 11, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Brock Ungricht's RBI single to center capped a three-run ninth-inning rally as San Diego State came from behind to defeat Long Beach State, 4-3, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win was SDSU's fifth in its last seven games as it improved to 11-26 on the season. The loss snapped the 49ers' three-game win streak as they fell to 15-16.
Long Beach State jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, scoring an unearned run in the first off SDSU freshman Lance Sewell, who was making his second start and first home appearance of 2006. LBSU leadoff hitter Matt Cline's routine grounder to second was thrown away by Nick Romero, and Cline then scored on a single by Danny Espinosa.
The visitors doubled their lead in the second on a triple by right fielder Jordan Struble and RBI single off the bat of Jose Hernandez.
Early on, the contest was one of missed scoring opportunities for San Diego State. The Aztecs put runners on first and second with no outs in both the second and fourth innings, but came up empty both times. They finally broke through in the seventh as Quintin Berry walked, stole second, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a double to left center by Paul Smyth.
Sewell, meanwhile, settled down as he retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced from the third through sixth innings. He left the game after the sixth having allowed the two runs on four hits while striking out six.
Long Beach State, meanwhile, used a total of five pitchers on the night and managed to keep the Aztec offense in check over the first eight frames. The 49ers even added what appeared to be an insurance run in the top of the ninth off reliever Mark Triolo on a two-out RBI base hit by Robert Perry.
In the bottom of the inning, LBSU brought on Vance Worley in an attempt to protect its 3-1 lead. With one out, Aztec catcher Chris Anderson doubled down the right field, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Berry top make it a 3-2 game.
Berry then stole second and went to third when 49er catcher Tito Cruz's throw bounced into center field. After Lance Zawadzki went down swinging for the second out, Smyth punched a 2-2 pitch into right center to bring Berry home and knot the score at 3-3. After Smyth stole second, it was Ungricht's turn to be the hero as he hit a 3-2 pitch to center to bring home Smyth with the game-winning run.
Triolo was the beneficiary of SDSU's late rally as he picked up his first win as an Aztec to even his record at 1-1. Worley took the loss to fall to 1-6.
Berry finished the night with three hits, two runs scored, and RBI and a three stolen bases while Smyth and Ungricht collected two hits apiece.
San Diego State now resumes Mountain West Conference play as it hosts Utah for a three-game series beginning Thursday (April 13) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
San Diego State 4, Long Beach State 3LBSU 110 000 001 - 3 5 1SDSU 000 000 103 - 4 10 2Turmail, Liebel (4), Andrade (6), Shaw (8), Worley (9) and CruzSewell, Simon (7), Triolo (9) and AndersonW - Triolo (1-1)L - Worley (1-6)Sv - NoneHR - NoneAtt. - 862Time - 3:43