April 10, 2009
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - San Diego State scored three times in the top of the eighth to erase a one-run deficit as it had to come from behind to defeat UNLV, 8-6, in game two of the series between teams played at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas Friday night.
The victory was the 10th in 11 road games for SDSU this season as it improved to 25-11 overall and 8-3 in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs remain in first place in the league standings, one game ahead of both TCU and New Mexico. UNLV, meanwhile, feel to 15-18 (4-7 MWC).
After the Rebels scored a run in the opening frame off San Diego State starter Jon Berger, Aztec junior right fielder Josh Chasse put his team ahead with a two-run homer in the second that followed a walk to Cory Vaughn. It was Chasse's second homer of the season as well as the second of his college career.
SDSU built on that lead and made it 5-1 with three unearned runs in the top of the fourth off UNLV starting pitcher Tanner Peters. After Erik Castro reached on an error and Vaughn singled to put runners at first and second, Mitch Blackburn's sacrifice bunt was thrown away by Rebel third baseman Jarred Frierson, allowing Castro to score. A ground out by Chasse brought home Vaughn from third and a two-out infield single by Ryan O'Sullivan scored Blackburn.
The Rebels came back with a run in the bottom of the inning and then took the lead with a four-run sixth. All four of those markers came with two outs with Berger being charged with three and reliever James McLaughlin being responsible for the go-ahead run that gave the home side a 6-5 advantage.
UNLV's Peters, meanwhile, was removed from the game after seven innings of work during which he allowed the five Aztec runs (two earned) on eights hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. The Rebels replaced him with Chad Nading, whose wildness would eventually aid in SDSU's comeback.
In the top of the eighth, Chasse led off by striking out, but made it first base as the third strike was a wild pitch. Chris Wilson then singled and Ryan O'Sullivan walked to load the bases. All three runners moved up a base on a wild pitch that tied the game at six-all before Pat Colwell drew a walk to re-load the bases.
That was end of the night for Nading. He was replaced by Marc Baca, who induced Brandon Decker to ground into a double play, but not without Wilson coming home from third. Another wild pitch plated O'Sullivan and SDSU found itself with a two-run lead.
McLaughlin, who had allowed UNLV's go-ahead run in the sixth, was the beneficiary of the rally as he would be credited with the victory to improve to 2-0 on the season. The run charged to him was the first he had allowed in his last seven appearances out of the bullpen.
Closer Addison Reed came on to begin the ninth, and after allowing a leadoff single he recorded a fly out to right and 6-4-3 double play to nail down his nation-leading 12th save of the 2009 campaign. UNLV's Nading was charged with the loss as his record dropped to 1-1.
The Aztecs and Rebels will conclude their three-game league series Saturday afternoon (April 11) with a contest scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. start in Las Vegas.