April 19, 2014
IRVINE, Calif. - San Diego State scored two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to overturn a 1-0 deficit and then held on for a 4-3 victory over No. 21 UC Irvine Saturday afternoon at Anteater Ballpark. The win enabled the Aztecs to win a series for the ninth time this season as they improved to 28-12 on the year.
The contest turned into another pitchers' duel over the first six innings, this time between SDSU's Mark Seyler and UCI's Evan Brock. Brock had the early advantage as his team gave him a run to work with, but it was Seyler who would emerge with the win when all was said and done.
The Aztecs spurned a chance to open the scoring in the top of the second, putting men at second and third with one out, but coming up empty.
The Anteaters on the other hand took advantage of their opportunity in the bottom of the same frame as a single, ground out, wild pitch and sacrifice fly gave the home side a 1-0 lead.
The offenses remained quiet over the ensuing four frames although UCI did load the bases with two out in the fifth as it remained a tight one-run affair. But SDSU bats came alive in the top of the seventh.
Brad Haynal began the inning with a single and one out later advanced to third on a single by Tyler Adkison. Adkison stole second and that set the stage for Evan Potter to line a single to center to bring home both runners and give the Aztecs their first lead of the afternoon. Potter's hit ended the day for Brock, who would eventually be tagged with the loss to fall to 6-3.
SDSU would tack on two more runs to its total in the top of the eighth back-to-back singles by Ty France and Seby Zavala put Aztecs on first and second with no outs. Pinch hitter Andrew Brown then squared around to bunt, but instead swung to place a ground ball to the area vacated by the UCI second baseman who had broken to cover first. The single drove in France and moved Zavala to third. A sacrifice fly to center by Brad Haynal plated Zavala and SDSU suddenly had a 4-1 lead.
But the drama was far from over. After Seyler conceded a leadoff single in the bottom of the eighth he was replaced by Aztec closer Michael Cederoth. The Aztec right-hander surrendered another single to the first batter he faced to put two men on with no outs. A fly ball to center moved the lead runner to third before a pitch in the dirt allowed the man on first to advance to second.
Cederoth then got a strikeout for the second out, but Jerry McClanahan fouled off several pitched before delivering a two-run single to left that made it a one-run game. The contest moved on to the ninth with SDSU holding a 4-3 lead.
Cederoth would go one to retire the side in order in the bottom of the final frame including two via the strikeout as he claimed his 15th save of the season. Seyler (6-3) would be credited with his team-leading sixth win after tossing seven-plus innings allowing two runs on six hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Zier, Zavala and Haynal had two hits apiece for the Aztecs with four different players (Brown, Zavala, Adkison, Potter) driving in a run.
San Diego State will now return home where its next contest is scheduled for Tuesday, Apr. 22, against Cal State Northridge at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.