Feb. 26, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored a pair of late runs to come from behind as it nipped USC, 2-1, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The contest was in stark contrast to the season-opening four-game series against San Diego in which the Aztecs totaled 44 runs. On this night SDSU could muster only three hits, but needed only one in the seventh when it tallied twice to win its third straight and improve to 4-1 on the year. USC lost for the first time in 2008 after starting its campaign with three wins at Florida International this past weekend.
Pitching was the theme of the evening as Trojan starter Kevin Couture and Aztec senior Shane Kaufman held the offenses in check for most of the first six innings. Couture allowed no runs on just two hits while walking three and striking out six during his outing.
Kaufman, meanwhile, got through the first four innings with little trouble, but surrendered a run in the top of the fifth. In that inning, Hector Rabago led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Anthony Vasquez. Roberto Lopez then drove in Rabago with a single through the left side of SDSU's drawn in infield.
After Joe de Pinto singled to put runners on first and third, it appeared USC was ready to do more damage. However, De Pinto was thrown out on a steal attempt, and after walking Nick Buss, Kaufman induced Mike O'Neill to fly out to left.
Aztec freshman Cory Vaughn accounted for two of SDSU's hits on the night, both doubles to right center field. His two-bagger with two outs in the second came to nothing as did his leadoff double in the fifth when he was stranded at second.
The Aztecs finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh off Trojan reliever Philip Urso, who had come on in that frame in to replace Couture. After Garett Green was hit by pitch to lead off, he promptly moved to third base on Brandon Glover's single. Vaughn then came up and hit a grounder to third, with Green breaking for home and being tagged out in the ensuing rundown.
With runners now on first and second Cameron Johnson grounded into fielder's choice with Vaughn forced at second and Glover advancing to third. A walk to Pat Colwell loaded the bases with two outs, and SDSU caught a break when Urso committed a balk to bring home the tying run and move the other two runners up one base. Urso (0-1) then uncorked a wild pitch on ball four to Brett Tanos to bring home what proved to be the winning run.
SDSU's relief trio of James McLaughlin (1.2 Inn.), Craig Rasmussen (0.1 Inn.) and Addison Reed (1.0 inn.) combined to pitch the final three innings, allowing just one base runner among them. McLaughlin was credited with the win to improve his record to 1-0. Reed, who has moved into the role of closer as a freshman, threw a perfect ninth inning to record his first collegiate save.
San Diego State will now serve as co-host of the USD Tournament this weekend with several contests being played at Tony Gwynn Stadium from Thursday through Sunday. The Aztecs begin tourney play with a contest against Cal Poly on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6:00 p.m. on their home field.