May 7, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - After being shut out on Friday, San Diego State's offense came alive Saturday afternoon as the Aztecs defeated Utah, 14-8, at Spring Mobile Park in Salt Lake City. Four SDSU hitters enjoyed multiple-hit efforts as the visitors tallied their second-highest run total of the season.
San Diego State built a late 10-run lead behind its resurgent offense and the pitching of freshman Cole Swanson. The Aztecs opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second on a two-out single by Brandon Meredith, RBI double by Jomel Torres and run-scoring single by Chris Wilson.
They added five more in the next frame to take a 7-0 lead. After loading the bases, SDSU got a two-run single from Cody Smith. That hit ended the day of Ute starter Brock Duke, who would suffer his first loss of the season and see his record drop to 6-1. Ben Mordini provided little in the way of relief, however, as he walked Pat Colwell to re-load the bases and issued an RBI walk to Meredith. Mordini then uncorked a wild pitch to score the fourth run of the inning before a single by Wilson added one more.
Utah tallied an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, but the Aztecs put four more on the board in the seventh to make it an 11-1 contest. Two-run singles by Smith and Torres gave SDSU a convincing lead, but things got a bit tense for the Aztecs as the Utes were able to quickly bet back to within three of the lead.
Back-to-back solo homers for Utah in the bottom of the seventh by C.J. Cron and Shaun Cooper chased Swanson from the mound. The first-year lefty would depart after 6.2 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts. He would eventually be credited with the win to improve to 4-1, but not before the Utes made it interesting.
Utah would add five runs to its total against three SDSU relievers in the bottom of the eighth. The big blow in the inning was a three run homer by James Brooks. Sophomore right-hander Brain Crabb eventually ended the Ute's rally, but not before they had made it an 11-8 contest.
However, San Diego State would tack on three insurance runs in their final at bat. Those came courtesy of a two-out two-run single by Wilson followed by a run-scoring hit by pinch hitter Mitch Bluman. Crabb finished off the game in the bottom of the inning, allowing a single but striking out a pair to nail down the victory.
Chris Wilson finished the day with three hits and four runs batted in while Cody Smith matched Wilson's RBI total with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Jomel Torres (double, three RBU, run) and Tim Zier (two runs) also finished with two hits apiece while Brandon Meredith had a hit, two walks, an RBI and scored twice. In addition, Evan Potter had a double, two walks and three runs scored.
San Diego State and Utah will conclude their three-game series with a contest on Sunday, May 8, scheduled to begin at noon (MT).