April 12, 2008
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State outfielder Pat Colwell hit for the cycle on Saturday to help the Aztecs to a 9-2 victory over Utah in the second game of their weekend series. He becomes the first SDSU player to hit for the cycle in 60-plus years of varsity baseball at the school. Colwell's hitting complemented another excellent pitching performance by senior J.R. Murphy, who collected his fifth straight victory.
With the win, San Diego State improved to 20-15 overall and 8-3 in the Mountain West Conference. The Utes saw their record drop to 13-16 (3-4 MWC).
After reaching base on a fielding error to open the game, Colwell went on to record a single in the third, home run in the fourth, double in the sixth and triple in the eighth. His cycle was even more remarkable as his four-bagger was an inside-the-park homer that occurred when Utah right fielder Tyler Relf had to dive for his sinking line drive that ended up rolling to the fence. Colwell ended the contest with four hits and scored all five times he reached base.
Aztec left fielder Brandon Decker, batting second in the lineup behind Colwell, also had a standout day, collecting four hits with three runs batted in and a run scored. SDSU's other big hit came off the bat of Brandon Glover, who connected for his first home run of the season.
San Diego State opened the contest with a pair of runs in the first off Utah starter Brian Budrow thanks in part to a pair of Ute errors. SDSU added a run in the third on a Garett Green sacrifice fly, then made it 5-0 on Colwell's two-run homer in the fourth.
Two innings later, the Aztecs put together a two-out rally as Erik Castro singled, Colwell doubled and Decker drove both runners home with his third hit of the afternoon. That signaled the end of the day for Budrow, who was lifted after allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits over his 5.2 innings. The loss dropped his record to 4-3
Glover's homer to deep right field in the seventh added the eighth SDSU run. In the next frame, Colwell completed his cycle with a triple to right and came home on Decker's base hit up the middle.
San Diego State starting hurler J.R Murphy turned in another solid pitching performance as he won for the fifth time in his last six starter (the other being a no-decision) to improve to 5-1. He went 7.2 innings before reaching his pitch count and leaving the contest. Along the way he scattered six hits and recorded eight strikeouts with the latter mark tying his career high.
Utah scored a pair of consolation runs in the ninth off reliever James McLaughlin, the first runs he had given up in his last eight appearances covering 18 innings.
The Aztecs and Utes will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, April 13, with a contest scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PDT) start at Tony Gwynn Stadium.