May 23, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - Utah completed a remarkable run at the Mountain West Conference Tournament as it defeated San Diego State, 9-3, to claim the title and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals. The Utes became the first No. 6 tourney seed to win the championship while SDSU was the first No. 4 seed to advance to the final.
With the win, Utah improved to 26-29 while the Aztecs saw their record drop to 40-21.
The Utes took control of the contest when they sent 10 men to the plate and scored six times in the top of the third against SDSU starter Ryan O'Sullivan. After striking out the first two batters, the Aztec right-hander gave up five hits and a pair of hit batters including a two-run double by Austin Jones and two-RBI single by Rick Cornu.
After the Aztecs got a run back in the bottom of the inning on doubles by Easton Gust and Brandon Meredith, Utah added two more runs in the next inning, both of which were charged to O'Sullivan to make it 8-1. The freshman right-hander would ultimately be tagged with the loss to even his record at 4-4.
Utah right-hander Greg Krause, who came on to get the final two outs in the bottom of the sixth, went 1.2 innings of middle relief and was credited with the victory to improve to 2-4. He allowed three hits and struck out one.
San Diego State's second run came in the sixth on an RBI single by O'Sullivan, who had remained in the contest as the designated hitter. The Utes countered with a run of their own in the next frame to re-establish their seven-run advantage at 9-2. SDSU scored its final marker in the eighth on a run-scoring single by Jomel Torres.
O'Sullivan (run, RBI) led San Diego State with three hits while Meredith (double, RBI), Torres (RBI) and Matt Parker had two hits apiece for the Aztecs. Pat Colwell, who had a single, was also hit by pitch for the 30th time in his career set a new SDSU career record.
Two Aztecs were named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the contest. That twosome included third baseman/catcher Erik Castro along with starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Castro hit .400 (8-for-20) over five games with four doubles, four runs scored and four RBI. Strasburg made one start, throwing 7.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in the win over New Mexico.
San Diego State will now have to wait until Monday morning (May 25) when the NCAA hosts in annual tournament selection show to see if it will receive an at-large bid to the postseason. That show will be broadcast live on ESPN at 9:30 a.m. (PT).