March 20, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - San Diego State combined some timely hitting with a strong pitching performance from starter Stephen Strasburg to record a 7-2 victory over Utah in the opening game of their three-game series Tuesday evening at Franklin Covey Field in Salt Lake City. The win ended s short two-game skid for the Aztecs as they remain perfect in Mountain West Conference play at 4-0 while improving to 11-9 overall. The Utes, meanwhile, fell to 6-11 in what was their 2008 MWC opener.
SDSU, which never trailed, grabbed the lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Erik Castro, then made it a 3-0 game in the next frame on back-to-back RBI base hits by Cory Vaughn and Brandon Glover. When Utah scored a run in the bottom of the third, the Aztecs restored their three-run lead in their next at bat on a two-out run-scoring single by Garett Green.
For his part, Strasburg kept the Ute offense in check most of the night, allowing two runs on seven hits while waling one a striking out nine. His strikeout total matched his career high which he has set twice previously this season.
After Utah scored in the bottom of the fourth to close the score to 4-2, Strasburg retired 12 of the final 14 hitter he faced from the fifth through the eighth innings. In the process, the sophomore right-hander picked up the win to improve to 2-1 on the year. Freshman closer Addison Reed tossed the ninth inning, striking out two to secure the victory.
The Aztecs added a run in their half of the seventh on Vaughn's second RBI single of the contest to make it a 5-2 game. That spelled the end of the evening for Ute starter Stephen Fife, who took the loss to even his record at 2-2. SDSU tacked on a pair of markers in its final at bat in the ninth as Nick Romero tripled home Pat Colwell, then scored on a single by Green.
Green led San Diego State at the plate with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. In addition, teammates Cory Vaughn and Brandon Glover also had two hits apiece with Vaughn driving in a pair of runs and Glover scoring once. All nine SDSU starters recorded at least one hit.
The Utes and Aztecs continue their weekend series on Friday, March 21, with a contest slated to start at 6:00 pm. (MDT) at Franklin Covey Field.