Feb. 20, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Three Aztec pitchers held Winthrop to a lone run on just two hits as San Diego State defeated the Eagles, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The victory was the first of the year for SDSU and the second loss of the weekend for Winthrop as both teams ended the day with 1-2 records.
Aztec freshman right-hander TJ Kendzora (1-0) made a stellar collegiate debut, retiring the first 15 batters he faced en route to picking up the win. His final stat line included one run allowed on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts over six innings.
Kendzora's teammates staked him to an early lead, scoring four times in the bottom of the third off Eagle starting pitcher Matteo D'Angelo (0-1). Jared Hunt began the rally with a double and went to third on a ground out to second by Tim Zier. After Pat Colwell was hit by pitch, Brandon Meredith singled to center to bring home Hunt.
Jomel Torres followed with an RBI single to drive home Colwell. A passed ball moved Meredith and Torres to second and third respectively before Cody Slader delivered a two-out two-run single that made it 4-0.
The Aztecs manufactured another run in the next frame. Back-to-back singles by Brad Haynal and Cody Smith were followed by a sacrifice bunt by Hunt and an RBI grounder to second by Zier.
Kendzora, meanwhile, was impressive while tossing five perfect innings. Those 15 outs included a pair of strikeouts with only two balls leaving the infield, both fly outs to center field. However, he began to tire in the sixth as the visitors loaded the bases on a hit and two walks with Tyler Cook's sac fly to center getting Winthrop on the scoreboard.
SDSU got that run back in the seventh on singles by Zier and Colwell along with a sacrifice fly by Torres.
On the mound, JC transfer Austin Haynal came on in the seventh for San Diego State and allowed a lone single over two innings of work. Sophomore Corey Black then threw a perfect ninth inning to secure the win.
Eight of the Aztecs' nine starters hit safely with three recording two hits apiece including Meredith (triple, single), Zier and Haynal. In addition, Torres and Slader contributed two RBI apiece.
San Diego State continues its five-game season-opening home stand with a contest against UC Irvine on Tuesday, Feb.22, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.