April 1, 2012
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State scored five times over the first four innings and a trio of Aztec pitchers made those runs stand up as SDSU completed a weekend sweep of the Falcons with a 5-3 win Sunday afternoon. The victory moved the Aztecs (14-15 overall) into sole possession of third place in the Mountain West as they evened their conference record at 3-3.
San Diego State took a quick 2-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Run-scoring singles by Chris Wilson and Spencer Thornton staked the home side to the early advantage. A third run came two innings alter when Wilson singled with two out and Thornton dove him home with a triple down the right field line.
SDSU stretched its lead to 5-0 in the fourth, scoring twice on two hits and an Air Force error. Ryan Muno began the rally with a single and advanced to third when Jake Romanski's grounder to second was thrown away, allowing the SDSU catcher to reach second as well. Matt Muñoz's single brought Muno home and was followed by a safety squeeze off the bat of Greg Allen that scored Romanski.
Aztec starting pitcher Ryan Doran shut out the Falcons over the first six innings on just two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. They finally got to the junior right-hander in the seventh as a triple and single made it a 5-1 contest. Doran finished the inning with his final line reading a run on five hits, two walks and a season-high seven strikeouts as he picked up the win to improve to 1-3.
Mike Hachadorian came out of the Aztec bullpen to start the eighth inning, and after retiring the first two batters he faced, allowed a double and triple as Air Force closed to within 5-2.
SDSU junior right-hander Justin Hepner was called to the mound for the ninth and would be credited with his fourth save of the year, but not before the Falcons made it interesting. After getting the first out of the inning, Hepner surrendered four consecutive singles including two bloop hits to right to make it a 5-3 contest. With the bases, he then struck out the next two batters to secure the win.
For the second straight day, the Falcons got a complete-game effort from their starting pitcher. Evan Abrecht went the full eight innings allowing SDSU's five runs (three earned) on 11 hits with n walks and seven strikeouts, but saw his record fall to 2-1 with the loss.
Spencer Thornton finished the afternoon with a pair of hits including a triple and two runs batted in. Seby Zavala (double), Chris Wilson (two runs scored) and Ryan Muno (run scored) also contributed two hits apiece to lead the Aztec attack.
San Diego State will wrap up its current five-game home stand with a contest against 10th-ranked Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday, April 3, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.