April 4, 2009
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State made it three straight against visiting UC Davis as it took both ends of a doubleheader, 9-4 and 5-4, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs got a compete-game effort from senior Jon Berger in the opener and saw junior Tyler Lavigne toss six shutout innings in the nightcap as both hurlers picked up wins.
In the first game, SDSU (22-10) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first and added three more in the second off Aggie starter Tom Briner (0-4), who would eventually be charged with all nine Aztec runs (seven earned) before departing in the sixth.
In the first, Cory Vaughn's RBI single drove home Brandon Meredith from second with Erik Castro also scoring on the play when the ball got by the UC Davis center fielder.
In the second, Ryan O'Sullivan connected for his second home run in two days, scoring Easton Gust, who had singled, ahead of him. Later in the frame, Meredith's double to center brought home Pat Colwell, who had walked and advanced to second on Brandon Decker's ground out.
The Aggies (4-21) climbed back in the contest with a pair of runs in the fourth, but SDSU answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. When the visitors added a run in the sixth, the Aztecs responded with three in their half of the inning on RBI by Meredith, Chris Wilson and Easton Gust.
Berger's complete-game effort was just the second of the season for the SDSU pitching staff. He allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, on nine hits. He fanned four but did not walk a batter. He has now gone 31.2 innings without giving up a base on balls and has issued only two in 48.1 innings this season.
Meredith ended game one with three hits including a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Decker, Cory Vaughn (one RBI) and Mitch Blackburn (double) had two hits apiece.
The second game began somewhat like the opener with San Diego State taking a 2-0 lead with single markers in the first and third. The run in the opening frame came on a two-out bases-loaded walk to Blackburn after Colwell and Decker had singled and Castro walked. Two innings later it was a sacrifice fly by Blackburn that brought home Meredith. SDSU added a third run in the sixth as Cory Vaughn singled, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by T.J. Thomas.
Lavigne, meanwhile, limited the Aggies to four hits and a walk over his six innings of work as he would be credited with the win to see his record improve to 4-0. However, once he left the contest, UC Davis took advantage of the SDSU bullpen to score a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to cut the Aztecs' lead to a single run at 3-2.
But just as it did in game one, San Diego State had an answer as they scored twice in the bottom of the inning on a pair of walks to Ryan O'Sullivan and Pat Colwell, a sac bunt by Decker, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Meredith to restore its three-run lead at 5-2. All five Aztec runs in the game were charged to Aggie starter Scott Chew, who took the loss to fall to 1-3.
UC Davis scored a consolation run in the eighth before Addison Reed came on with two out in the frame to end the threat. The Aztec closer then retired the sided in the ninth to record his nation-leading 10th save of 2009.
By adding a pair of hits, a run and an RBI in the contest, Meredith ended a productive day with a total of five hits, three runs scored and four runs batted in. Decker also had two hits in the nightcap and Colwell scored two of SDSU's five runs in the game.
UC Davis and San Diego State will close out their four-game series Sunday afternoon (April 5) with a contest slated for a 1:00 p.m. (PT) start at Tony Gwynn Stadium.