March 14, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State (10-6, 2-0 MWC) got another excellent pitching performance from senior Jon Berger and put together a pair of three-run innings as it defeated UNLV, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Aztec senior right-hander went eight innings, allowing a single run on five hits while recording a career-high 10 strikeouts and walking none. With the win he improved to 1-2 on the season while lowering his earned run average to 3.18.
UNLV starter Tanner Peters (2-1) kept the SDSU offense in check over the first four innings, allowing lone singles in the first and third while retiring seven hitters in a row entering the fifth frame. In that inning, however, San Diego State got to Peters for three runs that would eventually cause him to be hung with his first loss of the season.
With one out, Mitch Blackburn reached on a single and came all the way home on Matt Parker's double to right center field. Consecutive singles by Ryan O'Sullivan, Pat Colwell and Brandon Decker brought home two more runs and the home side had a quick 3-0 lead.
Berger, meanwhile, faced the minimum over the first four innings allowing just a single to UNLV's Anthony Morel, who was erased while trying to steal second. From the fourth through the sixth innings, eight of the nine outs he recorded came via the strikeout.
The Rebels (11-5, 0-2 MWC) finally broke through for a run in the top of the eighth on a triple by Jarred Frierson and RBI single by Morel to make it a 3-1 game.
SDSU responded by putting a three-spot on the board in the bottom of the inning on three hits, a pair of walks and a wild pitch.
With James McLaughlin on to start the ninth in place of Berger, UNLV loaded the bases on a pair of singles and walk. At that point Addison Reed came on to strike out the next three ULNV batters and record his sixth save of the season.
For San Diego State, Colwell, Blackburn and Decker finished with two hits apiece. Colwell and Decker collected one RBI each as did Jomel Torres and Matt Parker.
The Aztecs and Rebels conclude their weekend series on Sunday at Tony Gwynn Stadium with a contest scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PT) start.