April 13, 2010
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - After winning three high-scoring affairs this past weekend, San Diego State came out on the short end of a low-scoring contest as it dropped a 3-2 decision to Cal State Northridge Tuesday afternoon at Matador Field. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Aztecs, who saw their record fall to 15-18.
Although SDSU failed to score in the opening inning for the first time in eight games, they did get on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the fifth. Ryan O'Sullivan led off with a walk and advanced to third when Jomel Torres' sacrifice bunt attempt was thrown away by Matador pitcher Bryan Longpre. O'Sullivan then scored on a sacrifice fly by Chris Wilson.
The Aztecs doubled their lead two innings later. O'Sullivan again got things started with a walk, was sacrificed to second by Torres and went to third on Wilson's ground out, Left fielder Brandon Decker then came through with the two-out RBI single to give SDSU a 2-0 lead.
SDSU starter Steven Moranda went five strong inning, shutting out Northridge on three hits and a pair of walks. He would not be involved in the decision, however, as in the end the Aztec bullpen would be unable keep the Matadors from coming back for the win.
With junior lefty Ryan Wynveen on to start the seventh, C.J. Belanger started the inning with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out, pinch hitter Chris Allen walked to put runners at first and second and end Wynveen's afternoon on the mound.
John Pecoraro was called in from the bullpen, but it wasn't to be his day as Brand Decater's single drove in the first CSUN run and a double by Ridge Carpenter brought home two more to give the Northridge a 3-2 lead. The third run of the inning was charged to Pecoraro (3-2) and he would be charged with the loss.
Matador reliever Jacob Petersen was the beneficiary of his team's late rally as he picked up the win to improve to 1-0. After getting the first out in the top of the eight, Petersen was lifted in favor of Billy Ott, who allowed just a single over the final 1.2 innings to claim his second save of the season.
After finishing its eight straight road game, the Aztecs will now return to San Diego to begin a 14-game home stand. That run begins with a Mountain West Conference series against Utah that gets underway with a contest on Friday, April 16, at 6:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.