March 2, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State was limited to five hits by as trio of Fresno State pitchers while the Bulldogs roughed up six Aztec hurlers for 17 hits in FSU's 9-2 win over SDSU Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The loss was the third straight for San Diego State, which dropped to 5-4 on the season. The victory ended a three-game losing streak for Fresno as it climbed to 3-5.
The Aztecs' first run in the contest came on a passed ball in the first that brought home Troy Hanzawa, who had singled, stolen second and gone to third on a fielder's choice. That marker gave the home side an early 1-0 lead.
After the Bulldogs grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-run single by Alan Ahmady, SDSU manufactured its other run in the bottom of the same inning. Hanzawa led off with a double and was at second with one out when a wild pitch that rolled toward the Fresno dugout allowed him to score all the way from second base to knot the score at 2-2.
From that point on, the Bulldog pitching threesome of starter Justin Miller plus relievers Holden Sprague and Kris Tomlinson kept the SDSU offense in check. The only Aztec base runners over the final six innings came on a double by Erik Castro in the sixth and a single by Garett Green in the eighth. Miller (1-0) making his second of the season, went six innings, allowing the two runs (one earn) on four hits while striking out five to pick up the victory.
Fresno State's offense had little trouble finding its rhythm, adding seven runs to its total by scoring in each inning from the fourth through the seventh. On the afternoon, eight of their nine runs were scored with two outs with the first four (two in the third and two in the fourth) coming on rallies that began after the first two batters in the inning were retired.
Aztec junior Jon Berger, who had tossed seven innings of shutout ball last Monday at USD, lasted just 4.1 innings on Sunday after giving up five runs on nine hits. The loss evened his record at 1-1.
Hanzawa was the lone SDSU player with more than one hit as he tallied a single and a double in his first two plate appearances and scored both of San Diego State's runs in the contest.
Up next for the Aztecs is a short trip north on Tuesday (March 4) when they will face the UC Riverside Highlanders at 6:00 p.m. at the Riverside Sports Complex.