June 1, 2013
LOS ANGELES - The University of San Diego scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase a 2-0 San Diego State lead as the Toreros defeated the Aztecs, 6-3, Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Regional being contested at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium. With the loss, SDSU was eliminated from the competition and finished its 2013 campaign with a record of 31-31.
The contest began well for San Diego State as it took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the second. A leadoff double by Ryan Muno was cashed in when Brad Haynal's two-out single to center drove him in.
SDSU doubled its advantage in the ensuing frame when walks to Greg Allen and Tim Zier plus a wild pitch set the stage for a sacrifice fly by Muno to make to a 2-0 Aztec lead.
Aztec starting pitcher Michael Cederoth looked good over the first four innings as he limited the Toreros to one hit while striking out five. But it all came unraveled in the bottom of the fifth.
A single, hit batter and walk loaded the bases with one out before another base on balls forced home a run and cut the Aztecs' lead in half. That ended the day for Cederoth in favor of junior right-hander Philip Walby, but another single, two SDSU errors and a sacrifice fly made it a 5-2 contest.
Cederoth's final stat line read 4.1 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on just two hits. He struck out five, but the two hit batters and five walks he conceded were crucial in the final outcome. The loss dropped his final season record to 3-9.
USD would tack on another run in the sixth as a pair of singles sandwiched around another hit batter upped the Toreros' lead to 6-2.
San Diego State tried to rally in its half of the eighth when a single by Danny Sheehan and a walk to Muno put two men on with two out. Ty France then sent a single to center to bring home Sheehan, and when the ball bounced away for the USD center fielder Muno was waved home as well. However, the throw from center beat the Aztec first baseman to the plate and he was called out to end the inning.
Torero freshman Troy Conyers retired the Aztecs in order in the ninth to record his first save after having come on for the final batter in the previous inning. USD starter Dylan Covey went 7.2 innings to record the victory and improve to 5-4.
The Aztecs were held to five hits on the day with no player recording more than one. Muno and Jake Romanski each had a double while RBIs were provided by Muno, France and Haynal.
SDSU's final record (31-31) was its best in the past four seasons. Season highlights included winning the conference tournament for the first time since 2000, placing six players on the all-tourney team and having six athletes earn all-Mountain West honors.