March 6, 2009
SAN DIEGO - Cory Vaughn's three-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning brought San Diego State back from the edge of defeat as it bested the University of San Diego, 6-4, Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Vaughn's heroics gave SDSU its third win in three contests against the 11th-ranked Toreros in 2009. With the victory, the Aztecs improved to 6-5 while USD saw its record drop to 7-5.
The game-winning home run was San Diego State's first hit since the third inning as USD starter Kyle Blair and All-American reliever AJ Griffin kept the Aztec offense at bay after it had put single runs on the board in both the second and third frames to take an early 2-0 lead.
In that second inning, Vaughn drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a ground out and scored on Jomel Torres' single to right. In the third, it was Vaughn driving in a run with a single that brought home Pat Colwell, who had singled and advanced to second on a walk to Mitch Blackburn.
In the top of the fourth, USD came storming back to take the lead as it scored three times on three hits, a walk and an error. The two-out error was especially costly as it gifted the visitors the go-ahead run. The three runs (two earned) were charged to SDSU starter Jon Berger who would go on to complete 6.2 innings, allowing seven hits and striking out a career-high six batters.
With the lead Blair settled down, retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced from the fourth through sixth including six via the strikeout. However, after a leadoff walk to Matt Parker in the seventh was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Easton Gust, Blair's evening came to an end in favor of the All-American Griffin.
After a walk to Pat Colwell put runners on first and second, a grounder to second by Brandon Decker forced Colwell at second, but the relay throw to first was wild, allowing pinch runner Zach Babitt to score and tie the game at 3-3.
The game remained even until USD put up a run in the top of the 10th on an RBI single by Sean Nicol. The Torero shortstop then stole second and third before being tagged out in a rundown on a missed suicide squeeze play.
Griffin, who was in command against Aztec hitters in the eight and ninth, began the bottom of the 10th by walking Brandon Decker and Mitch Blackburn on nine pitches. After a strikeout, he threw a hanging breaking ball that Vaughn jumped on and deposited over the fence in left center field.
The win went to Aztec right-hander James McLaughlin (1-0), who had come on in the top of the inning and fanned the one batter he faced to end the Torero threat. Griffin (0-1) took the loss after what was his longest outing (3.0 innings) of the young season.
San Diego State and USD continue their four-game weekend series on Saturday (March 7) with a contest at the Toreros' Cunningham Stadium scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PDT) start.