Feb. 21, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored in each of the first five innings, then held on at the end for an 8-7 win over 10th-ranked Cal State Fullerton Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. It was another nail biter in which an Aztec opponent mounted a rally in the final inning, but this time the Titans came up one run short.
The win improved SDSU to 7-4 on the year as it continued its best start since the 2002 season. CS Fullerton lost for just the third time as it fell to 7-3.
The victory gave Aztec starter Steven Hirschfeld his first win as an Aztec after a pair of no decisions in his first two starts at San Diego State. The junior from Moab, Utah, went five innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out three.
The pair of unearned runs charged to Hirschfeld came in the first inning as the Titans jumped out to a 2-0 lead aided by three SDSU miscues in the field.
San Diego State answered back with a run in the bottom of the opening frame on an RBI double by Nick Romero. One inning later, the home side took the lead for good, putting four runs on the board on three hits, a walk and an error. Pat Colwell, Brandon Glover and Romero all had RBIs in the inning as SDSU took a 5-1 lead.
The five runs all came off Fullerton starter Michael Morrison, who took the loss to fall to 0-1. After the visitors closed to within a run at 5-4 courtesy of a two-run homer by John Curtis in the top of the third, the Aztecs continued to add to their lead with single runs in each of the next three innings off a pair of Titan relievers.
Hirschfeld left the contest after five innings of work, making way for freshman Stephen Strasburg. The first-year Aztec from nearby West Hills High School was impressive as he retired all nine batters he faced, including three on strikeouts, over the next three innings.
Taking an 8-4 lead in the final inning, San Diego State was seemingly in control, but the Titans would not go easily. The Aztecs sent junior Mike Koons to the mound, but a pair of walks sandwiched around a pop-out put runners on first and second with one out. A throwing error on the back end of potential double play ball scored one run and put a runner on second with two outs and the score 8-5.
Back-to-back singles by Joel Weeks and Nick Mahin added another run before Shane Kaufman was called out of the Aztec bullpen. The Titans closed to within one run on another base hit by Curtis before Jake Vasquez was hit by pitch to load the bases. Kaufman then struck out Chris Jones to end the game and pick up SDSU's first save of the season.
SDSU's Romero, who was named the MWC player of the week on Monday, continued his hot hitting by going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Troy Hanzawa added a pair of singles, a run scored and an RBI.
San Diego State wraps up its current six-game home stand with a three-game series against UC Riverside that begins Friday evening (Feb. 23) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.