Feb. 11, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State completed a three-game sweep of its series with Santa Clara as it downed the Broncos, 6-2, Sunday afternoon in a rain-delayed contest at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win, SDSU improved to 4-2 while Santa Clara saw its record fall to 5-5.
Pitching continued to be the Aztecs' strong suit as starter Lance Sewell (1-0) went five innings, allowing two runs while walking one and striking out eight. Behind Sewell, the relief trio of Charles Nolte, Garrett Parcell and Mike Koons limited the visitors to one hit over the final four innings and added four more strikeouts to bring the total to 12 on the afternoon.
San Diego State got off the mark early in the series finale, putting a run on the board in the bottom of the first. Nick Romero's two-out single brought home Troy Hanzawa, who had singled, went to second on a balk and advanced to third on a ground out.
SDSU built its lead to 3-0 one inning later. Garett Green was hit by pitch to lead off the frame and was followed by Cameron Johnson's single to right. Both runners moved up a base on Brandon Decker's sacrifice bunt. First baseman Mike Willeford then hit a slow roller up the third base line that managed to stay just fair. Green scored, and when Willeford was thrown out attempting to go to second, Johnson also scored on the play.
The three Aztec runs were enough to pin the loss of Bronco starter Justin Kuehn, who evened his record at 1-1 on the year.
Sewell's only mistake on the afternoon came in the top of the fourth when Santa Clara DH Ryan Conan blasted a two-run homer to left center. But SDSU answered right back with a run in the bottom of the inning on a double steal and throwing error that allowed Decker to score from second.
Willeford, who finished the afternoon with three hits, again was the catalyst in the sixth as his two-out triple to right center was followed by a passed ball, allowing the Aztecs to take a 5-2 lead. Their final run came in the next inning on a two-out RBI single by Johnson.
The sweep by San Diego State was its first of a non-conference opponent since the 2002 season when it defeated Southern Utah three times at home in early March.
The Aztecs will next be in action on Tuesday, Feb. 13, when they host Loyola Marymount at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.