Feb. 25, 2012
Kansa State Box Score | Pacific Box Score
SAN DIEGO - Jake Romanski's RBI double down the left field line drove home the winning run and capped a four-run eighth inning as San Diego State came from three runs down to defeat Pacific, 5-4, in the nightcap of a split doubleheader at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Saturday. In the opening contest, the Aztecs dropped a 15-7 decision to Kansas State.
SDSU (3-5) took the early lead against Pacific (0-7) in the second when it loaded the bases and scored on Tim Zier's fielder's choice grounder to take a 1-0 lead. Starting pitcher Justin Hepner made that lead stand up over the first five frames, but in the sixth, UOP's Curtis Gomez belted a solo home run over the right field fence to knot the score at 1-1.
After allowing a pair of singles in the same inning, Hepner gave way to junior right-hander Bryan Crabb, who got the final two outs of the frame to keep the game tied. Hepner ended his night going 5.1 innings and allowing the one run on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
The Tigers, however, would get to Crabb for three runs in the top of the seventh on a walk, hit batter and three base hits. Freshman mike RoBards came on from the bullpen and immediately gave up a RBI double to pinch hitter Jacob Goulder, but Gomez was thrown out at home on the play by Tim Zier to keep the score at 4-1 in favor of the visitors.
In the bottom of the eighth Ryan Muno was hit by pitch and Jomel Torres drew a walk to put men at first and second. Pinch hitter Spencer Thornton them dumped a two-out triple just inside the right field line to bring home both runners and make it a 4-3 game. Avondre Bollar then hit a harp grounder to second that Gomez was unable to handle AS Spencer game home on the play to tie the game. Matt Muñoz was then awarded first base on catcher's interference to set the stage for Romanski's game-winning hit.
Junior Ethan Miller came out in the top of the ninth for the Aztecs, and after allowing a one-out double, retired the final two hitters to pick up his first save of the season. Mike Hachadorian, who had tossed the eighth inning, was credited with the win to improve to 1-0.
In the earlier game against Kansas State (3-3), the Wildcats exploded for eight runs in the top of the third and eventually took a 14-0 lea den route to their second win over SDSU in three days. Sophomore hurler TJ Kendzora was the victim of K State's offensive outburst ad he would take the loss to fall to 0-1.
SDSU did little offensively over the first five innings against Wildcat starter and winner Joe Flatttery (1-1). The Aztec finally got going in the bottom of the sixth when they scored five times courtesy of RBIs by Chris Wilson, Cody Slader, John Spirk, Jomel Torres and Avondre Bollar. They added single runs in the seventh and ninth, but it was too little too late to prevent the loss.
On the day, Avondre Bollar led the Aztecs with three hits while Cody Slader and Spencer Thornton drive in two runs apiece.
Up next for San Diego State in a mid-week contest at 19th-ranked Cal State Fullerton scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:00 p.m. at the Titans' Goodwin Field.