April 3, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State got offensive contributions from throughout the lineup and four Aztec pitchers combined to toss the team's first shutout of the season as SDSU defeated UC Davis, 14-0, Friday afternoon at PETCO Park in San Diego. Eight of nine starters tallied at least one hit as the team made itself at home in the San Diego Padres' major league ballpark.
With the victory, the Aztecs improved to 20-10, their best mark at the mid-point of the season under Head Coach Tony Gwynn. The Aggies, meanwhile, continued to struggle as they saw their record fall to 4-19 on the year.
Stephen Strasburg (6-0) made the start on the mound for San Diego State and went six innings allowing three hits while striking out six and walking a pair. He was followed in succession by John Pecoraro, James McLaughlin and George Snyder for one inning apiece. That threesome gave up just a pair of hits as they completed the shutout. It was a memorable day for Pecoraro as the appearance by the freshman marked his collegiate debut.
The Aztecs used 15 hits, including nine extra-base knocks, as they scored in six different innings against a trio of UC Davis hurlers. They opened the contest with a pair of runs in the first on two walks, two singles and a sacrifice fly off Aggie starter David Popkins. The freshman right-hander would last just 3.1 innings and allow eight runs on eight hits along with four bases on ball. He would eventually be tagged with the loss to fall to 0-1.
SDSU all but put the contest beyond doubt with a five-run fourth inning that was sandwiched around a pair of two-run outbursts in the third and fifth. The big blow in the fourth was a three-run homer to right field by catcher Erik Castro. It was the first of two home runs on the afternoon for Castro as he also had a two run blast over the 400-foot sign in right centerfield one inning later. He would end his afternoon with the two round-trippers and a single good for six RBI.
Sophomore Cory Vaughn, who missed SDSU's last three contests, made his return a notable one as he went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.
Freshman shortstop Ryan O'Sullivan marked the occasion by connecting for his first collegiate homer, a shot over the left field fence that accounted for the Aztecs final run of the game in the eighth inning. In addition, relief pitcher Matt Skipper, who also sees time at the DH position, picked up his first collegiate hit with an RBI double in the seventh in his only at bat of the contest.
Although SDSU first baseman Brandon Meredith saw an eight-game hitting streak come to an end, he did draw three walks and scored after each of those plate appearance. Brandon Decker's single to right saw him extend his latest hitting streak to eight while Pat Colwell had a pair of singles for his 16th multiple-hit effort of 2009.
UC Davis and San Diego State will continue their four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 4, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The first contest of that twin bill is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. (PT) start.