May 22, 2010
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State took advantage of 19 hits, nine walks and four UNLV errors as it overcame an early four-run deficit to defeat the Rebels, 12-6, Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory, the Aztecs improved to 27-26 overall and 12-11 in the Mountain West Conference as they secured at least the No. 4 seed for next week's MWC Tournament.
The game did not get off to the best of starts for the home side as UNLV (27-26, 11-12 MWC) scored four runs in the top of the first off Aztec starter Steven Moranda. The final two runs came on Brandon Bayardi's ninth home run of the season, a two-run shot deep of the left field fence.
SDSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on Chris Wilson's two-out two-run single that followed hits by Jomel Torres, Mitch Blackburn and Cory Vaughn that loaded the bases.
The Aztecs then pulled to within a run in the next frame when Blackburn's two-out double brought home Torres from first base. Blackburn, who had four hits in the series opener on Thursday, went one better as he recorded a total of five hits in Friday's contest along with four RBI and two runs scored.
After the Rebels re-established their two-run lead at 5-3 with a single marker in the top of the third, San Diego State knotted the score in the same inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Ryan O'Sullivan and a bases-loaded walk to Torres. Torres reached base five times on the night with three singles and two walks, scoring twice and driving in one run. He also had a sacrifice bunt later in the contest.
SDSU took a 6-5 lead in the fourth when Brandon Meredith walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Blair Moore's base hit through the right side. Moore was another of the Aztecs' offensive stars as he finished with four hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
San Diego State tacked on three more runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Josh Chasse and two-run single by Blackburn to make it a 9-5 score line. After the visitors scored once in the seventh, the Aztecs put the game away with three in the eighth on RBI singles by Blackburn, Vaughn and Moore.
On the mound, meanwhile, Aztec junior Craig Rasmussen had come on in the fifth inning and tossed 2.1 innings in relief, allowing a run on three hits. His effort was enough the earn him his first win of the season while John Pecoraro picked up his sixth save as he held the Rebels scoreless over the final 2.2 innings on one hit. UNLV reliever Chad Nading, who allowed three runs (one earned) from the third through fifth innings, was charged with the loss to fall to 0-2.
UNLV and San Diego State will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a contest slated to get underway at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.