April 15, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State built a six-run lead over the first five innings and held on for a 6-5 victory over UC Riverside Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win, SDSU completed a sweep of the three meetings with the Highlanders this season while ending a three-game skid to improve to 26-11. The loss extended UCR's losing streak to six games as its record dropped to 14-18.
The Aztecs struck quickly with a run in the first as Greg Allen singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Sheehan and scored when Tim Zier's ground ball was misplayed by Highlander second baseman Joe Chavez.
The home side made it 4-0 with three runs in the next inning. Singles by Brad Haynal and Ryan Muno plus a walk to Allen loaded the bases with two outs. Sheehan was then hit by pitch by UCR starter Jordan Kron to bring home Haynal before a walk to Tim Zier allowed Muno to score. SDSU added its third run of the frame when Ty France's grounder to third was booted by Cody Hough.
In the fifth Haynal connected off UCR reliever Angel Landazuri for a two-run homer to right to give the Aztecs a 6-0 advantage.
Aztec starter Cody Thompson pitched into the sixth inning before being lifted after a one-out single. The redshirt freshman went 5.1 innings allowing no runs on two hits with three walks and four strikeout. He would eventually be credited with the win to up his season record to 5-2.
SDSU called on freshman lefty Brett Seeburger, who immediately picked the Highlander runner off first. However, he then surrendered a double and single as the visitors made it a 6-1 contest.
With Justin Hepner on in relief in the eighth, UC Riverside opened the inning with a hit batter and single before the Aztecs went to the bullpen for junior left-hander Brandon Thomas. The change had little effect as a single made it 6-2 before UCR's Nick Vilter hit a ball over the left field fence for a three-run homer that made it a one-run contest at 6-5.
In the bottom of the eighth closer Michael Cederoth came on with one out and a runner on first, getting out of the inning with a pair of strikeouts.
UCR threatened in the ninth, getting runners at second and third with two outs on a walk and Aztec error, but Cederoth got the final out on a grounder to short to track up his 13th save.
Brad Haynal led the SDSU offense on the night with a pair of hits including the home run with two RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Muno, making just his fourth start since returning from a 22-game layoff due to concussion, had a single and double with a run scored.
San Diego will now take a break from conference play as it travels up the freeway to face No. 21 UC Irvine for a three-game series that gets underway on Thursday, Apr. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark.