April 10, 2011
San Diego State was unable to complete a sweep of its three-game series with Utah as it dropped a 10-6 decision to the Utes Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the loss the Aztecs' record fell to 11-21 (5-4 Mountain West Conference) while Utah improved to 13-12 (6-4 MWC).
SDSU freshman Philip Walby (0-1) made his first start of the season and ran into trouble right away. A leadoff double by James Brooks was followed one out later by an intentional walk to the hot-hitting C.J. Cron. Cody Cooper then deposited a fastball deep over the left center field fence to sake the visitors to a 3-0 lead.
The Aztecs responded with a run in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit. Tim Zier was hit by pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on Pat Cowell's ground out to second. Brandon Meredith then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to make it a 3-1 game.
Utah struck for two more runs off Walby in the third as they chased the right-hander from the game after loading the bases with one out. Stephen Moranda came on and surrendered a sac fly and RBI single to account for the two runs.
SDSU cut the deficit to 5-2 in the bottom of the frame on doubles by Meredith and Chris Wilson. That marked the end of the day for Ute starter Ben Mordini, who gave way to relive Luke West. With his team adding three runs in the sixth, West (1-0) would eventually be credited with his first victory of the season. Closer Tyler Wagner, who would toss the final three innings, picked up his eighth save of the year.
Trailing 9-2, San Diego State got two runs back in its half of the seventh again without a hit. A hit batter and walk along with a pair of throwing errors aided the Aztecs' brief rally.
After Utah added a run in the ninth, SDSU scored a pair of consolation runs in its final at bat. A walk to Colwell and single by Meredith preceded a sacrifice fly by Torres and a two-out error on the Ute shortstop that allowed the runs to cross the plate.
Meredith was the lone Aztec to garner more than one hit in the contest as he finished with a single, double, RBI and three runs scored.
Up next for San Diego State is a short road trip north to face UC Irvine on Tuesday, April 12, at Anteater Park at 6:30 p.m.