March 17, 2009
SAN DIEGO - It was an evening of standout pitching by a pair of freshmen hurlers, but it was SDSU right fielder Cory Vaughn who provided the offensive spark and made the defensive play of the game in San Diego State's 1-0 victory over Kansas Tuesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win was the fifth straight for the Aztecs and the eighth in their last nine outings as they improved to 12-6. With the loss, the Jayhawks dropped to 10-6.
SDSU freshman Ryan O'Sullivan, making his fourth collegiate start, turned in his best performance of the season as he allowed just three hits over his seven innings of work with a walk and three strikeouts. After giving up a pair of hits in the first, he settled in and retired 12 batters in a row from the second through fifth frames before giving up a leadoff single in the sixth. His excellence was rewarded with a victory as he evened his season record at 1-1.
For the Kansas, their freshmen right-hander Lee Ridenhour (3-1) was just as effective, giving up a lone run on three hits while striking out eight and walking only one. Despite his fine outing, he ended up on the losing end of the score as he lost for the first time in 2009.
The game's only score came in the second inning when Vaughn led off with a triple to the gap in right center field. He then scored on Mitch Blackburn's ground out to second base.
The Jayhawks' first serious threat of the game came in the top of the sixth when they put runners on first and second with one out on an error and base on balls. Third baseman Tony Thompson then hit a ball to deep right field that appeared to be going over Vaughn's head. However, at the last moment he reached up and made the catch high above his head. His throw to the infield easily doubled up the runner to end the threat.
In the ninth, Kansas loaded the bases against Aztec closer Addison Reed on a single, hit batter and an error before he induced Jayhawk third baseman Nick Faunce to pop out to first base to end the contest. It was the SDSU sophomore's seventh save in seven opportunities this season.
San Diego State and Kansas will conclude their short two-game series on Wednesday evening (March 18) at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.