April 26, 2009
SAN DIEGO - A late comeback attempt by San Diego State fell one run shy as 16th-ranked TCU held on to defeat the Aztecs, 6-5, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win moved the Horned Frogs (27-12; 8-4 MWC) into first place in the Mountain West Conference while SDSU (28-17, 10-8) remains in fourth.
Just as it did on Saturday, San Diego State opened the scoring in the first inning with a run made possible by consecutive singles from Brandon Decker, Brandon Meredith and Erik Castro. From there, however, TCU starting pitcher Tyler Lockwood kept the SDSU offense in check for the most part over the next six innings.
Although the Aztecs ended the contest with almost twice as many hits as the visitors (13-7), it was the Horned Frogs who were more efficient advantage of their opportunities in the middle innings.
In the TCU third, a walk to Jason Coats and double by Matt Curry set the table for a two-run single by Aaron Schultz. Later in the same frame, a two-out single by Matt Carpenter plated the third run as the Horned Frogs took a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth, a walk to Matt Vern was cashed in when Bryan Holaday hit a home run to left center to make it a 5-1 contest.
SDSU countered with a solo home run by Cory Vaughn in the sixth, his team-leading 10th of the season.
The Horned Frogs made it 6-2 in the seventh as they again took advantage of a walk (to Tyler Featherston this time) that produced a run on a ensuing double off the right field fence by Carpenter.
San Diego State mounted its comeback rally in the bottom of the eighth as singles by Castro, Vaughn and Mitch Blackburn loaded the bases with one out and chased Lockwood from the mound. With reliever Erik Miller on to pitch, Aztec catcher Chris Miller singled up the middle to bring home Castro as SDSU closed to within 6-3 and kept the bases loaded.
Jomel Torres then slapped a base hit to right that scored both Vaughn and Blackburn. However, Torres was thrown out trying to take second on the throw home from right field and Easton Gust ground out to leave the score at 6-5.
Just as he did on Saturday, TCU closer Eric Marshall retired the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save. That made a winner of Lockwood, who improved to 4-1 on the season.
The final result also meant the first loss of the season for SDSU starter Tyler Lavigne as he dropped to 4-1. The junior right-hander went six innings, giving up five runs on five hits while walking three and striking out seven. Aztec reliever Goldy Simmons allow a run in his two innings of work, but also recorded five strikeouts before Addison Reed cam on to toss a scoreless ninth.
Five Aztecs had two hits apiece on the day including Decker, Meredith, Castro, Vaughn and Wilson. The only one of SDSU's 13 hits that went for extra bases was Vaughn's home run in the sixth.
San Diego State will now take a break from conference action as it travels north next weekend for a four-game series at Santa Clara beginning Friday, May 1, at 6:00 p.m. (PT) at the Broncos' Stephen Schott Stadium.