Feb. 23, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State claimed its second series win of the young season as it defeated West Virginia, 7-3, Sunday afternoon to take the rubber game of the three contests between the teams this weekend.
The Aztecs put up four runs over the first three innings and rode the pitching of starter Mark Seyler and closer Michael Cederoth for the victory.
In the bottom of the first, a double by Tim Zier was cashed in by Ty France, who doubled later in the frame to give SDSU the quick 1-0 lead. It was the first of three doubles on the afternoon for France, who tied the school mark for doubles in a game.
The Aztecs received some help from the visitors in the next inning as they added a pair of runs to their total. With two out, Greg Allen tripled down the right field line and Zier followed with a walk. Ryan Muno then lofted a fly ball to right that was dropped by right fielder Shaun Wood allowing both runners to score.
SDSU made it 4-0 one inning later on a leadoff double by France and ground outs by Brad Haynal and Steven Pallares that advanced him to third and home respectively.
On the mound, Seyler got through the first three frames with little problem before he was touched up for a pair for runs in the top of the fourth on a double and three singles. Over the next three innings, however, he surrendered only two hits and retired the final seven hitters he faced in the fifth through seventh. Seyler's final stat line read seven innings pitched, two runs allowed on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts as he would pick up the win to improve to 2-0.
San Diego State added a couple of insurance runs to its total in the bottom of the seventh when Muno and Seby Zavala doubled and singled to start the inning. France's third double of the contest drove both runners home and gave the Aztecs a 6-2 lead.
After the visitors score a run in their half of the eight off Aztec reliever Justin Hepner, SDSU responded with one of its own in the bottom of the inning when Zier scored on a single by Muno.
Junior right-hander Michael Cederoth, who had come on with two out and two on in the eighth, retired all four batters he faced in the contest and recorded his first career save.
Greg Allen (triple, stolen base, run scored), Muno (double, RBI, run scored) and Zier (double, three runs scored) finished the day with two hits apiece.
Up next for the Aztecs is a short drive north on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to face UC Riverside at 6:00 p.m. at the Riverside Sports Complex.