Aztecs Defeat UNLV, 4-3, In MWC Tournament Opener

San Diego State overcame three unearned runs and emerged with a 4-3 win over UNLV in its opening game of the 2011 Mountain West Conference Tournament Tuesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The victory advances SDSU in the winners' bracket and sets up a contest with second-seeded Utah at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

The Aztecs made an inauspicious start to the contest as they surrendered a pair of first-inning runs to the Rebels that came without the benefit of a hit. SDSU starter Corey Black issued opening walks to Trevor Kirk and Scott Dysinger, then allowed them to move up a base when his attempted pickoff throw at second skipped into center field. Trevor Cook then hit a grounder to second that was misplayed by Tim Zier, allowing the two runners to cross the plate.

Facing MWC Pitcher of the Year Tanner Peters, San Diego State produced little in the way of offense over the first five frames. Although it put a runner on base in four of those innings Peters got double plays to end the threat.

Black created more trouble for himself in the top of the sixth, walking the leadoff hitter, Ryan Scott, who was sacrificed to second. Another attempted pickoff play at second saw the ball end up in center field with Scott advancing to third. Another walk was followed by a fielder's choice to short that brought Scott home to make it 3-0.

The Aztecs finally got to Peters in the bottom of the inning. After Evan Potter walked, Cody Smith sent to drive over the right field fence to draw SDSU to within a run at 3-2. It was the third of three hits on the night for the freshman center fielder.

Black would go two more innings on the mound and would be credited with the win when his teammates scored twice in the bottom of the eighth. With Pat Colwell at first on a leadoff single, Evan Potter sent a 3-2 pitch into right field for a base hit that moved Colwell to third.

When Potter made a wide turn at first, Rebel third baseman Travis Feiner tried to throw behind him, but his toss skipped past first base allowing Colwell to score the tying run and sending Potter to third. After a fly out, Tim Zier's single to left advanced Potter to third and he scored on an ensuing wild pitch by Peters to give SDSU its first lead of the night at 4-3.

But there was more drama to come in the ninth. Bryan Crabb came on in relief and walked Casey Sato before getting a pop-up for the first out. Scott Dysinger then hit a comebacker to Crabb, but the Aztec right-hander threw wide of the bag at second with all hands safe.

Ryan Wynveen was called in from the bullpen at that point and he struck out the next batter only to have an error on a grounder to short load the bases. The Aztec then called on senior Craig Rasmussen and came on to strike out Ryan Scott to end the game and record his third save of the season.

Black was credited with the win to improve to 4-5 as he went eight innings allowing the three unearned runs on three hits with eight walks and eight strikeouts. Peters, who had a no-decision against SDSU in Las Vegas last Thursday, took the loss in a complete game effort that saw him surrender the four runs (three earned) on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

In addition to Cody Smith's multiple-hit effort, catcher Chris Wilson ended the evening with a pair of hits with Evan Potter scoring two of SDSU's four runs.

San Diego State will now face Utah in their second game of the tourney on Wednesday (May 25) at 3:00 p.m. That game will be preceded by the elimination game between UNLV and Brigham Young, which lost to New Mexico 5-4 in 11 innings. The Lobo will face top-seeded TCU at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday night.