Feb. 21, 2012
RIVERSIDRE, Calif. - Four UC Riverside pitchers limited San Diego State to just one hit over the first seven innings as the highlanders defeated the Aztecs, 7-1, Tuesday night at the Riverside sports complex. With the win, UCR evened its record at 202 while SDSU drooped to 1-3 on the season.
Riverside wasted little time tasking the lead as it score twice in the first on a two-out two-run single by first baseman Vince Gonzalez that scored Devyn Bolasky and Eddie young, who had singled and walked respectively to begin the frame.
UCR made it 3-0 in the next inning on a base hit by Bolasky that put runners at second and third with one out and ended the night for San Diego State starter Adam Anawalt. Freshman left-hander Brandon Thomas came on I relief and need just one pitch to extinguish the threat. Eddie Young's fly ball to left was caught by SDSDU's Greg Allen, who then threw a strike to home to retire Bart Steponovich attempting to score from third.
The Highlanders extended their lead with four more runs in the bottom of the g=fourth off a pair of Aztec relievers. The big blow in the inning was a two-out-two-run single by Gonzalez that brought home the final two markers of the frame.
Meanhwile, Riverside starting pitcher Joe Patito limited SDSDU to just one hit over his five innings of work. The junior right-hander, who was UCR's closer a year ago, was making his first career start and struck out five over the first five frames.
Patito (1-0) would be credited with the win while Aztec freshman Anawalt (0-1), one of seven pitchers utilized by SDSU on the night, took the loss.
San Diego State scored a consolation run in the eighth when freshman Greg Allen led off with a double to left center, advance to third on a ground out by Tim Zier and scored on Avondre Bollar's grounder to shortstop.
The Aztecs other two hits in the contest, singles by Jomel Torres and Cody Slader, came with two out in the ninth before UCR reliever Joe Dunyon got the final out to secure the victory for the home side.
After an off-day on Wednesday, San Diego State will resume action when it hosts Kansas State on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. That contest is the first of four games in three days for the Aztec as part of the annual USD Tournament.