May 30, 2009
IRVINE, Calif. - Junior right-hander Tyler Lavigne produced a stellar outing on the mound and freshman Brandon Meredith hit a pair of home runs as San Diego State defeated Fresno State, 4-1, Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Regional in Irvine, Calif. With the victory SDSU (41-22) stays alive in the postseason while defending national camp FSU (32-30) is eliminated.
Lavigne was excellent over the first 7.2 innings as he scattered five hits and allowed just an unearned run while striking out eight and walking one. He allowed more than one base runner in only one inning, that being the fourth when the Bulldogs scored their run. The junior right-hander picked up the win to improve to 8-2 on the year while lowering his ERA year 3.05.
Meredith, meanwhile, put the Aztecs on the board in the first inning as his home run deep over the left field fence drove home Pat Colwell, who had singled to open the game. It gave SDSU a 2-0 advantage and they would hold the lead the remainder of the night.
Fresno scored its lone run in the top of the fourth as Tom Medonca reached on an error. After a strikeout and fielder's choice that put Brennan Gowans at first, Kenny Wise tripled on a deep fly ball that eluded a diving Pat Colwell in center field. Gowans scored on the play to cut the Aztec lead to a single run.
One inning later, Meredith connected again, this time for a solo home run to left center. SDSU then got singles from Erik Castro and Mitch Blackburn that ended the evening for Bulldog starting pitcher Matt Morse (4-3). Reliever Holden Sprague then came on, but hit Chris Wilson to load the bases before uncorking a wild pitch to bring home SDSU's fourth run of the contest.
San Diego State closer Addison Reed came on in the top of the eighth to get the final out after Lavigne had allowed a double and reached his pitch count. Reed then retired the side in order in the ninth, two via the strikeout, to record his nation-leading 20th save in 20 attempts.
The Aztecs will now face UC Irvine in an elimination game on Sunday (May 31) at 4:00 p.m. (PT). The Anteaters, ranked first in the nation this week, were upset by Virginia, 5-0, in the late game Saturday evening.