March 1, 2007
STOCKTON, Calif. - San Diego State got a solid effort from starting pitcher Steven Hirschfeld and three relievers while getting some timely hitting from the bottom third of the order as it defeated Pacific, 3-1, Thursday afternoon at Klein Family Field in Stockton.
The victory saw SDSU improve its record to 9-7 on the year while the Tigers dropped to 4-10 as they lost their fourth straight outing.
Hirschfeld was in command much of the game and had a no-hitter after five innings. Over his six innings of work, he allowed just one hit, that coming to lead off the sixth inning. On the day, Hirschfeld gave up one unearned run, walked one and struck out four en route to improving to 2-0.
Pacific starter Curtis Pasma (0-1) equaled Hirschfeld's effort over the first four innings as the Aztecs had only one hit in their first four at bats, that a leadoff single by Nick Romero to open the second.
The Aztecs finally got to Pasma in the top of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs on three hits and a base on balls. After a one-out walk to Chris Anderson, first baseman Brian Lucas doubled into the left field corner to score Anderson from first. Cameron Johnson followed with an RBI single up the middle to give SDSU a 2-0 advantage.
Hirschfeld lost his no-hit bid in the next inning when Kurt Wideman led off with a double to left. He advanced to third on a ground out to first and came home on a passed ball as the Tigers cut the deficit in half.
San Diego State added an insurance run in the seventh on a single and stolen base by Anderson followed by a triple off the bat of Lucas to score SDSU's third run of the game.
On the mound, Aztec relievers Shane Kaufman, Aaron Brady and Stephen Strasburg threw the seventh, eighth and ninth innings respectively, keeping UOP off the board the rest of the way. Strasburg, a freshman from West Hills High School in Santee, tossed a one-two-three ninth to record his first collegiate save.
Lucas was the hitting star for SDSU, collecting two doubles and a triple while driving in a pair of runs on the afternoon. Romero had a pair of hits while Anderson had a walk, single and two runs scored.
The Aztecs and Tigers will have a re-match on Friday in their first contest of the Pacific State Bank Tiger Classic at 2:00 p.m. (PST). Earlier in the day (10:00 a.m.), San Francisco will face Baylor in the tourney opener.