March 26, 2011
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
PROVO, Utah - San Diego State scored three runs in the top of the 10th to defeat Brigham Young, 5-3, in the second game of a doubleheader at Larry H. Miller Field in Provo, Utah, on Saturday. The Cougars had earlier been victorious in the opener by a score of 6-4.
With the split, the Aztecs moved their season record to 7-17 overall and 3-3 in the Mountain West Conference. BYU, meanwhile, ran its season ledger to 12-11 (3-3 MWC).
In San Diego State's game-two win, it fell behind when BYU scored an unearned run in the third, but came right back to tie the game at 1-1 on back-to-back two-out doubles by Jomel Torres and Chris Wilson in the top of the fourth.
Wilson, who also doubled in the nightcap, would extend his current hitting streak to 15 games by the end of Saturday's action.
The Aztecs took the lead with a run in the seventh when Wilson reached on an error, was sacrificed to second by Brad Haynal, went to third on a single by Evan Potter and scored on Cody Smith's base hit down the left field line.
SDSU freshman left-handed pitcher Cole Swanson (1-1) had a standout effort in just his second collegiate start. He would record his first collegiate win after tossing nine innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits. He walked only one while tying his season high with eight strikeouts.
Swanson's only mistake came in the bottom of the ninth when he gave up a two-out solo home run to BYU's Bret Lopez that tied the game at 2-2 and sent it to extra frames.
But the Aztecs scored three times in the top of the 10th as they loaded the bases and got an RBI single by Pat Colwell, run-scoring double from Brandon Meredith and a sacrifice fly by Brad Haynal. Those runs came off Cougar reliever Blake Torgerson, who took the loss to fall to 0-1.
Senior Ryan Wynveen was called on in the bottom of the 10th, and although he allowed a run on two hits, he struck out two and preserved SDSU's lead to record his first save of the season.
In the opener, Brigham Young jumped out to a 4-0 lead after four innings against San Diego State starter Corey Black. The Aztec right-hander, who would eventually be charged with the loss to fall to 0-2, would depart in the bottom of the fourth having allowed the four runs (three earned) on four hits with four walks.
SDSU began a comeback effort with a run in the fifth when Chris Wilson doubled and came home on back-to-back ground outs by Cody Slader and Kyle Hayes.
The Aztecs closed it within a run as they scored twice in the next inning. A single by Tim Zier and Cody Slader plus a hit by pitch to Brandon Meredith loaded the bases with one out. A walk to Wilson and single by Slader made it a 4-3 contest and ended the day for BYU starter Clapper.
Chunner Nyberg came in from the bullpen and induced Kyle Hayes to hit into a double play to end the threat. Clapper (1-2), who allowed three runs on six hits over his 5.1 inning, would be credited with the win at game's end.
The Cougars answered with a run in their half of the sixth to make to a 5-3 game before Brad Haynal brought the Aztecs to within a run again with a pinch hit solo home run in the top of the eighth. BYU, however, again responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to restore its two-run cushion.
Brigham Young closer Kolton Mahoney took the mound in the ninth and retired the side in order to nail down the win and recorded his second save of the year.
Chris Wilson was one of SDSU's hitting stars on the day as he finished with three doubles and three runs batted in over the two games. Cody Smith (double, RBI) and Pat Colwell (run, RBI) also had three hits fro the Aztecs.
San Diego State now returns home to begin a four-game home stand that starts with a contest against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, March 29, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.