March 1, 2014
MORAGA, Calif. - San Diego State scored a run in the opening inning and led the entire way as it went on to a 7-4 win over St. Mary's at Louis Giusto field in Moraga Saturday afternoon. The win was the fourth straight for the Aztecs, who improved to 7-2 and are off to their best start since the 1997 season.
Greg Allen got SDSU going in the top of the first with a double down the left field line, the first of his three hits on the afternoon. He advanced to third on a grounder to shortstop and scored on Ryan Muno's RBI single.
The Aztecs added three more to their total in the next frame starting with a leadoff home run by Ty France, his first of the year. A walk to Brad Haynal and single by Tyler Adkison were cashed in by Allen's two-out single to left that brought both runners home and made it 4-0.
The Gaels (4-5) fought their way back into the game with a pair of runs in the third and one more in the fourth off SDSU starter Mike Robards. Those runs got the home side to within a run at 4-3, but that was a close as it would get the rest of the way.
RoBards allowed only one hit and a walk over the next three innings as he retired the final seven batters he faced before departing after seven innings. His final stat line included the three runs allowed on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He would pick up the victory to improve to 2-1.
San Diego State got a little breathing room when it put two runs on the board in the top of the seventh to up its lead to 6-3. The first run came courtesy of an RBI single by Tim Zier that scored Evan Potter, who had led off the frame with a double. Later in the inning SDSU loaded the bases and Zier scored on a wild pitch.
St. Mary's got a run back in its half of the eighth, but SDSU countered with a run in the ninth as Muno doubled with one out, went to third on a ground out and scored on passed ball.
Junior right-hander Michael Cederoth, who had come on with one out in the eighth, tossed the final 1.2 innings to pick up his third save in as many opportunities. He faced the minimum of five batters and struck out the side in the ninth to wrap up the win.
Greg Allen led the Aztecs with three hits including a double, two RBI and a run scored. Ty France, Ryan Muno and Tim Zier each had a pair of hits and an RBI as SDSU finished in double figures in hits for the third straight game.
San Diego State and St. Mary's will wrap up their rain-shortened series with a doubleheader on Sunday (Mar. 2). The first game of that twin bill will get underway at 10:00 a.m. with the second contest starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the opener.