April 25, 2008
SAN DIEGO - Another standout pitching performance by Stephen Strasburg plus some timely hitting propelled San Diego State to a 4-1 victory over TCU in the opener of their three-game conference series. The sophomore right-hander tossed his second complete-game one-hitter in his last three outings in a dominant performance that was complemented by some clutch offensive production by his teammates.
Strasburg allowed base runners in only one inning and stuck out 13 as he improved to 4-1 on the season and lowered his league-leading earned run average to 1.63 overall and 0.92 in conference play. The run he allowed in the seventh inning broke a string of 30 straight frames in which he had not allowed an opponent to record a run.
The Aztecs (25-17, 11-5 MWC) got on the board with a run in the third when Erik Castro's leadoff double was cashed in by an RBI single off the bat of Cameron Johnson. They extended that lead to 2-0 in the fifth as Pat Colwell's two-out single up the middle brought home Castro, who had singled and advance to second on a ground out by Johnson.
Strasburg, meanwhile, retired the first 18 men he faced before the Horned Frogs (27-15, 11-5 MWC) countered with a run in the top of the seventh. Ben Carruthers led off the inning with a double to left center and took third on a wild pitch. Bryan Kervin's grounder to second brought home Carruthers to end Strasburg's scoreless innings streak. Chris Ellington then drew a two-out walk, but he would be the last TCU hitter to reach base on the night.
San Diego State added a pair of insurance runs in its half of the eight thanks to some clutch hitting by Garett Green. With Colwell on second base and two out, the Horned Frogs opted to intentionally walk Nick Romero to face Green. The Aztec second baseman made them pay as he laced a triple to right center to drive home both runners and give the home side a three-run cushion.
All of the Aztecs' runs came off TCU starter Tyler Lockwood, who went the distance allowing the four runs on 120 hits while striking out seven. The loss was the first of the season for the sophomore right-hander, who fell to 4-1 on the year.
For SDSU, Erik Castro ended his day with three hits and scored a pair of runs while Pat Colwell (one RBI) and Green (two RBI) tallied two hits apiece.
With the win, SDSU moved into a second-place tie with TCU at 11-5 in league play. Both teams are a half-game behind New Mexico (11-4), which is hosting three games against UC Irvine this weekend.
The Aztecs and Horned Frogs continue their three-game series on Saturday (April 26) at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. That contest will be televised live on The Mtn. and may also be heard live on the Internet at www.GoAztecs.com.