March 29, 2011
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored seven runs in the fifth inning to break open a tight game en route to a 10-0 victory over Cal State Northridge Tuesday evening. The win was the fifth in the last eight contests for the Aztecs, who improved to 8-17 on the year.
It was a combination of timely hitting and stellar pitching that propelled SDSU to its first shutout victory of the season.
On the hitting side, both Jomel Torres and Ben Vasko had three-hit nights that included a single, double and home run. Vasko finished the night with four RBI while Torres had three. In addition, freshman Evan Potter had a pair of hits and two runs batted in.
San Diego State struck quickly to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Pat Colwell led off with a walk and went to third on Torres' double. Brandon Meredith then hit a shot up the middle that ricocheted off the pitcher's leg to the first baseman for the putout, but Colwell scored on the play.
The Aztecs added another run in the second on Vasko's leadoff home run, his first of the season. CSUN starter Carlos Gonzales, who left the contest after the second inning, would be tagged with the loss to even his record at 1-1 on the year.
SDSU Starting pitcher Steven Moranda struggled with his control early surrendering two walks and a hit batter over the first two frames, but did not allow a run. In the third, a single and a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases and ended his evening in favor of sophomore right-hander Bryan Crabb. Not only did Crabb get the third out to erase the threat, he proved unhittable over the next four innings.
Crabb, who was credited with the win to improve to 1-3, went on to toss 4.1 perfect innings, retiring all 13 batters he faced. Along the way he recorded three strikeouts as only two balls left the infield against him during his stint on the mound.
In the fifth, the Aztecs sent 12 men to the plate, scoring seven times on six hits and three walks. One-out singles by Potter and Colwell were followed by Torre's blast that hit high up on the wall behind the right field fence to make it a 5-0 game.
SDSU then loaded the bases on walks to Meredith and Chris Wilson along with a single by Brad Haynal to set the stage for Vasko's two-run single to right. A walk to Cody Slader re-loaded the bases and the Aztec plated two more runs on a two-out single up the middle by Potter.
The Aztecs' final run came on Vasko's RBI double in the sixth that scored Torres, who had singled to lead off the inning.
TJ Kendzora and Mike Hachadorian were brought on in relief of Crabb, pitching the eighth and ninth innings respectively. Each hurler gave up a leadoff single and struck out two while preserving the shutout.
Up next for San Diego State is a three-game home series against Oral Roberts that gets underway on Friday (April 1) with a contest scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start.