Feb. 13, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State survived a pair of rain delays and a solid offensive effort from Loyola Marymount as it defeated the Lions, 10-6, Tuesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win was the fourth straight for the Aztecs, who led the contest early, fell behind, then came back to win it late. In the process, SDSU improved to 5-2 on the year while LMU dropped to 3-4-1.
For the third consecutive game, San Diego State jumped out to a lead in the first inning. This time it scored three runs on three hits and an error, getting RBIs from Brandon Glover and Garett Green.
That lead didn't last long, however, as the visitors scored three unearned runs in the next frame. A two-out fly ball to left was misplayed by outfielder Cameron Johnson and the Lions capitalized on the miscue with a walk and two hits to knot the score at 3-3. The big blow in the inning was a two-run double to left center by shortstop Michael Glomb off SDSU starter Steven Hirschfeld.
The teams traded runs in the next inning with each side scoring once. The first rain delay of the night, which lasted just 10 minutes, came in the top of the fourth with two out and none on. The break seemed to affect Hirschfeld, who gave up a double and single when play resumed that gave LMU a 5-4 lead. But just as it had done previously, SDSU responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 5-5 contest.
The rains came again in the top of the fifth, this time causing a 32-minute stoppage of play. When the game was halted, the Lions had a runner on third with one out, but that runner was stranded when the contest resumed as Aztec freshman lefty Nate Solow got a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.
San Diego State took the lead for good in the bottom of the same inning, scoring twice off Lions reliever Joe Zeller (0-1). Chris Anderson and Cameron Johnson opened with singles, and when Josh Chasse's ensuing single to right went under the glove of outfielder Angelo Songco, both runners scored. The runs helped make a winner of Solow (1-0), who picked up the victory in his collegiate debut.
Loyola Marymount was able to close the gap to one run in its half of the seventh, scoring a single marker on a single by Jeremy LaMell, a stolen base, and an RBI base hit by Eric Farris.
Leading by just one run at 7-6, SDSU was able to put the game away with three run of its own in the seventh. Brandon Glover's two-out bases-loaded triple allowed Chasse, Mike Willeford and Pat Colwell to score.
Colwell, a freshman walk-on infielder, made his first start after having pinch run twice earlier in the season. He responded by going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Glover ended his night with a pair of hits and five runs batted in while Nick Romero had a pair of triples and two walks.
SDSU's 10 runs and 14 hits were team highs this season and the first time the Aztecs reached double figures in either category through its first seven contests.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game series with 21st-ranked USC that begins on Friday, Feb. 16, at 7:00 p.m. at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles. The second and third games of the series will take place at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Saturday (Feb. 17) and Sunday (Feb. 18) at 6:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively.