May 5, 2007
SAN DIEGO - UNLV jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then hung on to defeat San Diego State, 7-6, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs were unable to cash in on several scoring opportunities as they went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The loss extended SDSU's losing streak to seven games as it dropped to 27-24 overall and 11-9 in Mountain West Conference play.
The Rebels went ahead in the second inning on a solo home run down the right field line by third baseman Xavier Scruggs. They increased their lead to 4-0 in the fourth, scoring three times with two outs on a walk to Scruggs, singles by Mike Brenly and Braden Walker, and a two-run double by Calvin Beamon.
San Diego State closed to within a run in the bottom of the fifth as it loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batter before Nick Romero doubled into the right center field gap to make it a 4-3 game.
UNLV (17-31, 6-1 MWC) answered right back, however, scoring three times in the next inning to restore its four-run advantage. After SDSU starter Steven Hirschfeld gave up a one-out single, he was replaced by junior right-hander Shane Kaufman, who got the second out of the inning immediately on a fielder's choice. However, he then gave up a walk, double and single to make the score 7-3.
A solo home run by Brian Lucas in the bottom of the sixth cut the Rebel lead to three, and Nick Romero's RBI single in the next inning made it a two-run deficit.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Aztecs began the inning with a walk to Troy Hanzawa and double by Nick Romero. UNLV reliever Marc Baca then got Frank LoNigro to pop out to second before a sacrifice fly to center by Brando Glover made it 7-6.
UNLV then brought reliever Adam Moser, who retired Brian Lucas on a grounder to third as he picked up his fourth save of the year and second in two games vs. SDSU.
Rebel starting pitcher Matt Hutchison (2-7) won for just the second time in 2007 as he went six innings, allowing four runs on six hits. SDSU's Hirschfeld, who gave up five runs on seven hits over his 5.1 innings of work, was the losing pitcher as he evened his season record at 4-4.
Romero was the offensive leader for San Diego State as he tallied three hits, including a pair of doubles and drove in four runs. Hanzawa (two runs scored) and Cameron Johnson logged two hits apiece for the home side as well.
The Rebels and Aztecs will conclude their weekend series with a game on Sunday (May 6) at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.