March 16, 2007
SAN DIEGO - Four San Diego State pitchers combined to limit UCLA to just a run on two hits over the first eight innings while its offense recorded a double-digit hit total in an 8-2 win over the Bruins Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Nine of the Aztecs' 13 hits on the night were recorded by the top four hitters in the order as SDSU improved to 13-11. UCLA, which committed four defensive miscues, dropped to 8-11.
Aztec starter Steven Hirschfeld picked up his third win of the year as he improved to 3-1 with a five-inning outing that saw him allow one run on a pair of hits. The junior from Moab, Utah, struck out eight before giving way to reliever Brandon Pullen to start the sixth.
Pullen struck out the one batter he faced before being replaced by Mike Koons, who allowed no hits and struck out two in 1.2 innings. Shane Kaufman went the final two innings, retiring the side in order in the eighth before giving up three hits in the final frame including a solo home run to Bruin shortstop Brandon Crawford.
All told, Aztec hurlers struck out a total of 14 UCLA batters on the night while giving up only two walks.
SDSU opened the scoring in the second inning as Cameron Johnson singled with two outs and advanced to second on a balk by UCLA starter Tyson Brummet (3-3). Garett Green's double to left scored Johnson, and Green came home when catcher Chris Anderson singled up the middle.
The Aztecs made it 3-0 in the next inning on a triple by Brandon Glover and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Josh Chasse. Glover, who made his season debut in the leadoff spot, also had an RBI double in the fourth that scored Anderson, who had reached on an error by UCLA third baseman Eddie Murray.
SDSU added two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings off Bruin reliever Jason Novak. In the seventh, an RBI single by Nick Romero and a sacrifice fly by Green brought home Chasse and Troy Hanzawa, who had singled and walked respectively to open the inning.
In the eighth, two-out singles by Chasse and Hanzawa were followed by an intentional walk to Romero. First baseman Brian Lucas then came through with a two-run single to right center to make it an 8-1 contest.
Romero finished his night with three hits and a run batted in while Glover, Chasse (two runs scored) and Hanzawa (two runs scored) had two hits apiece.
The Aztecs and Bruins continue their weekend three-game series in San Diego on Saturday, Mar. 17, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.