March 7, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State spread the offense around and got some clutch pitching and fielding late in the contest as it defeated the University of San Diego, 6-5, Saturday afternoon at USD's Cunningham Stadium. The win was the Aztecs' third straight over the 11th-ranked Toreros as they improved to 7-5. USD, meanwhile, dropped to 7-6 on the year.
SDSU never trailed in the contest after taking the lead with a pair of runs in its first at bat against Torero ace Sammy Solis. A sacrifice fly by Cory Vaughn and RBI single from Brandon Meredith staked Aztec starter Tyler Lavigne to a quick 2-0 lead.
After USD responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, SDSU restored its two run advantage by scoring in the top of the second. Tyler Marmion, making his collegiate debut, singled to open the inning, was sacrificed to second by Matt Parker and scored on a ground out by Easton Gust after a balk had advanced him to third.
Trailing 3-1, the Toreros rallied to tie the game with a pair of runs in the fifth off Lavigne. Those scores came courtesy of an RBI single by Zach Walters and a solo home run by Kevin Muno.
Not to be outdone, San Diego State came right back to re-assume the lead by scoring three times in the top of the sixth. After Meredith opened the frame with a single, T.J. Thomas drove him home with a double into the right center field gap. Thomas then came home on a run-scoring single by Parker. Two-out singles by Pat Colwell and Brandon Decker plated Parker and made it a 6-3 game in favor of the visitors.
Once again, however, USD's offense put a pair of runs on the board, this time on an RBI single by Victory Sanchez and sac fly by Walters to draw within a run at 6-5. That rally spelled the end of Lavigne's afternoon, but he would be eventually credited with the win to improve to 2-0.
Senior James McLaughlin came on in relief in the seventh and got out of a jam after putting runners on first and third with two out. However, in the next frame a leadoff double by Chris Engel and infield single by Austin Green put runners on first and third again, this time with no outs.
At this point the Aztecs summoned sophomore Craig Rasmussen out of the bullpen. The Aztec left-hander struck out pinch hitter Tony Strazzara for the first out of the inning before being involved in a defensive play that helped decide the outcome of the game.
With Green at third and one out, Bryan Haar laid down a bunt on an attempted squeeze play. Rasmussen charged the ball, gloved it and flipped it to catcher Erik Castro all in one motion to cut down Green at the plate.
Closer Addison then came on to strike out Muno to end the threat. Reed tossed the ninth inning as well, allowing two-out single to Sean Nicol before getting Victor Sanchez to pop out to shortstop to end the contest. It was Reed's fourth save in four attempts in 2009.
USD's Sammy Solis, who gave up six runs (five earned) on nine hits while striking out seven over six innings, took the loss to even his record at 1-1.
Eight of San Diego State's starters recorded at least one hit one the afternoon led by Brandon Meredith and Pat Colwell with two apiece. Similarly, six different players accounted for an RBI.
The Aztecs and Toreros conclude their four-game weekend series Sunday afternoon (March 8) with a game scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PDT) start at SDSU's Tony Gwynn Stadium.