March 3, 2012
SAN DIEGO - For the second time in two days and the fourth time in its five wins this season, San Diego State came from behind and scored the winning runs in its final at bat, this time defeating Milwaukee, 7-4, with a five-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The win came in SDSU's second game of the annual Aztec Invitational at Tony Gwynn Stadium Friday night as they improved to 5-6 on the year. Milwaukee, meanwhile, fell to 3-7. The contest was the first of the tournament's first six games that was decided by more than one run.
Freshman Michael Cederoth made his first start of the season and sailed through the first four innings, allowing only a hit and a walk. His teammates, meanwhile, staked him to a two-run lead with single markers in each of the first two frames.
In the first, the Aztecs loaded the bases on singles by Matt Munoz and Cody Smith followed by Ryan Muno being hit by pitch. Munoz then scored on Jomel Torres's ground out to first.
DSU went up 2-0 in the next inning as Steven Pallares and Seby Zavala single with Pallares coming home on Greg Allen's ground out to second.
The Panthers got on the board with a run in the top of the fifth on a double, walk and RBI single by Luke Meeteer to cut the deficit in half. They took their first lead one inning later, scoring twice on three hits to forge a 3-2 advantage. That rally ended the night for Cederoth, who finished his six innings of work allowing the three runs on six hits and a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Milwaukee starter Cale Tassi, meanwhile, shut the Aztec offense down after the second inning and saw his team add a run in the top of the eight to make it a 4-2 contest.
San Diego State's comeback in the bottom of the eight started with a double by freshman second baseman Mike Muñoz. Subsequent singles by Cody Smith and Cody Slader loaded the bases to force a pitching change as Milwaukee brought on Kaleb Engelke in relief of Tassi.
Engelke's time on the mound lasted just one pitch as he hit pinch hitter Dillon Bryant to bring home Smith rom third and get SDSU to within a run at 4-3. The Panthers then called Jordan Guth in from the bullpen. Guth proceeded to issue walks to Spencer Thornton and Pallares to force home two more runs and five SDSU its first lead of the night.
A sacrifice fly by Zavala brought home the fourth run of the inning before a walk to Evan Potter re-loaded the bases. Greg Blohowiak then came on in relief, but he immediately walked Grew Allen to bring home the fifth and final run of the inning.
Aztec freshman left Mike Robards, who had come on to get the final out in the top of the eighth then retired the side in the final inning and was rewarded his first collegiate win a he evened his record at 1-1. Milwaukee's Tassi, who went 7.1 innings, took the loss to fall to 0-1.
Matt Muñoz and Cody Smith finished with two hits apiece to account for four of SDSU's seven hits on the night.
In the day's earlier games, the University of San Diego defeated Cal Poly, 5-4, before San Francisco beat Cal State Northridge, 6-5 in 10 innings.
San Diego State's next contest will come on Saturday (March 3) when it faces San Francisco at 7:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. USD will take on Cal State Northridge at 11:00 with Milwaukee set to meet Cal Poly at 3:00 p.m. prior to SDSU's game against the Dons.