March 24, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State got contributions from throughout the lineup as it banged out 14 hits in an 11-4 win over Southern Utah Tuesday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Led by a four-hit effort from third baseman Erik Castro, eight starters contributed at least one RBI while base hits were recorded by eight different players as well. For Castro, it was his second four-hit contest in seven days.
With the win, the Aztecs improved to 16-8 on the season as they prepare to return to Mountain West Conference play against defending champions TCU this weekend. Southern Utah, meanwhile, dropped its third straight contest to see its record fall to 10-11.
SDSU got out of the gate quickly with four runs in the opening frame to take a lead it would not relinquish. The rally was keyed by four hits including RBI singles by Brandon Meredith, Cory Vaughn and Ryan O'Sullivan plus a sacrifice fly by Mitch Blackburn. The Aztecs were also aided by three walks from Thunderbird starting pitcher Kyle Hamman. The junior right-hander lasted only a third of an inning and was charged with all four runs as he was eventually saddled with the loss to drop to 1-2.
San Diego State's Goldy Simmons, making his second start of the 2009 campaign, got through the first two innings with no trouble before the visitors got to him for three runs in the top of the third. A solo home run by Levi Swenson and an RBI single by Nick Freitas plus a double steal drew Southern Utah to within a run at 4-3.
After that Thunderbird outburst, Simmons (1-0) settled down and pitched through the fifth inning with no further damage to record his first collegiate victory.
SDSU got some breathing room in its half of the fourth as it tallied four runs on four hits including back-to-back doubles by Castro and catcher Chris Wilson. In addition to that duo, Brandon Decker and Brandon Meredith also picked up RBI in the inning. The Aztecs tacked on three more runs in the seventh on three singles and a throwing error to make it an 11-3 contest.
Right-hander Matt Skipper, who had come on to start the sixth, went the final four innings on the mound for SDSU and was rewarded with his first save. Skipper allowed a run on four hits with no walks and a strikeout.
Castro's offensive line at the end of the day was 4-for-4 with a double, walk, RBI and three runs scored. Freshman first baseman Jomel Torres was also perfect at the plate with three hits, a walk, run scored and an RBI. In addition Brandon Meredith contributed a pair of singles, scoring twice and driving in a pair of runs as well.
Up next for San Diego State is a trip to Fort Worth, Texas, where it will face 18th-ranked TCU in a three-game series that gets underway on Friday at 6:00 p.m. (CT) at the Horned Frogs' Lupton Stadium.