April 2, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Pat Colwell's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 14th brought home the winning run as San Diego State defeated Oral Roberts, 4-3, Saturday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. That came after the Aztecs came back from the edge of defeat one inning earlier to send the game to one more extra frame.
The game was a pitchers' duel for the most part as both starters allowed little in the way of offense over the first eight innings. Oral Roberts right-hander Alex Gonzalez allowed just a single run, a homer to Brandon Meredith in the first, over his eight innings of work. Over that span Gonzalez gave up just three hits and two walks while striking out six.
On the other Side, SDSU lefty Cole Swanson was just as effective. The freshman from Torrey Pines High in San Diego went 8.1 innings as the Golden Eagles scored only once against him, that run coming in the fourth inning. Swanson allowed four hits with a pair of walks and struck out four in what was his third straight effective start of the season.
Following ORU's run in the fourth, neither team was able to dent the scoreboard over the next eight innings. The visitors were the more frustrated of the two teams as they would leave a total of 17 runners on base over the course of the contest.
In the top of the 13th, Oral Roberts (9-11) broke through with a pair of unearned runs that looked to be enough for the win. With two out, Graham McInytre singled and advance to third when catcher Brad Haynel's throw to second on his steal attempt went into the outfield. Cam Schiller was then hit by pitch to put runners on first and third.
With Steven Moranda on the mound in relief of TJ Kendzora, a passed ball allowed McIntyre to score. Haynel retrieved the ball and his throw to Moranda at the plate sailed down the right field line allowing Schiller to score from first and give ORU a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 13th, Cody Smith walked and stole second. With two out, Pat Colwell's fly ball to shallow right fell in between the second baseman and right fielder with Smith scoring on the play. Cody Slader followed with a single before Brandon Meredith hit a 3-2 pitch to right to bring home Colwell with the tying run.
Those runs came off Golden Eagle closer Matt Rush, who had tossed 1.2 innings Friday evening to record a save. On Saturday he would go 4.2 innings before allowing the winning run and taking the loss to fall to 0-2.
In the top of the 14th inning, Moranda (1-2) retired ORU in order to set the stage of his team's winning rally as he would be credited with his first victory of the year.
Haynel led off the bottom of the frame with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Kyle Hayes. Cody Smith was intentionally walked and Tim Zier worked his way to another base on balls to load the bases. Colwell then came through with a single down the left field line to plate Haynal with the game-winning run.
Colwell and Meredith accounted for half of SDSU's hits on the night with two apiece and were also responsible for a pair of RBI each.
Oral Roberts and San Diego State will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday, April 3, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.