Feb. 26, 2010
SAN DIEGO - A two-run homer by USD center fiddler Josh Meador was all that separated the Aztecs and Toreros as San Diego State fell by the score of 2-0 at Cunningham Stadium Friday afternoon. The loss ended a short two-game win streak for SDSU, which dropped to 2-5 on the season. At the same time, USD stopped a three-game skid as it improved to 4-3 and evened this season's series between the teams at one game apiece.
SDSU freshman Bryan Crabb, coming off an impressive effort in his first collegiate start last weekend, scattered six hits over four innings of work. In the third, he gave up a leadoff single to Nick McCoy and Meador followed with a home run to left field to give the Toreros all the runs they would need. As a result, Crabb would eventually be saddled with the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year.
Despite the loss, the Aztecs' pitching and defense did an excellent job in keeping their team in the game the rest of the way. In the fifth, sophomore right-hander John Pecoraro came on after a single and double gave USD runners on second and third with no outs. Pecoraro got a Fly out to short right, a grounder to third that cut down a runner at the plate and a fly ball to left to escape the inning with no damage done.
Two innings later, the Toreros again threatened by loading the bases with one out. Chris Engell then line a ball to right field where Josh Chasse made the catch and fired home to double up the runner attempting to score from third.
On the mound for USD, starter Sammy Solis sailed through the first five innings before struggling a bit in the sixth, with two outs, he loaded the bases on a walk to Mitch Blackburn, single by Brandon Decker and a hit by pitch to Brandon Meredith. Cory Vaughn then hit a sharp grounder to third that Steven Chatwood was able to field and race to third for the force out.
Solis (2-0) left the game after six innings having allows just four hits and a walk along with six strikeouts. Matt Hauser came on for one inning of relief work before Matt Thompson was summoned to close out the final two frames. Thompson struck out four as he recorded his second save of the season.
Freshman Jordan Van Hoosier was the lone Aztec with multiple hits on the day as he had two of San Diego State's six hits (all singles) during the contest.
SDSU and USD will continue their four-game series with a single contest on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.