April 8, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Seby Zavala's solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning broke a 2-2 tie and helped propel San Diego State to a 4-3 victory over visiting UC Riverside Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The homer was the second in four games for the Aztec left fielder and the second of his two RBI on the night.
The victory was SDSU's fourth straight and eighth in its last 10 contests as it improved to 25-8 on the year. The loss evened the Highlanders' season ledger at 14-14.
San Diego State got out of the gate quickly as it got to UCR starter Antonio Gonzales for a pair for runs in the bottom of the first. Greg Allen opened the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball before stealing third. He would score on Tim Zier's single to right. Zier then stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out to second by Zavala.
The Highlanders climbed back into the contest with single runs in the second and fourth with the latter ending the evening for Aztec starter TJ Kendzora in favor of reliever Mike Robards. Kendzora would depart after 3.2 innings allowing the two runs on five hits and a walk.
RoBards would toss the ensuing 3.1 frames, holding the visitors scoreless on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts to pick up the win and improve to 3-3.
Zavala's one-out homer in the bottom of the fourth reinstated SDSU's lead at 3-2 and the home aide added another run in the fifth on singles by Andrew Brown and Evan Potter along with a sacrifice fly by Allen to make it 4-2.
Aztec closer Michael Cederoth opened the top of the ninth with a strikeout, but then issued a pair of walks and a single to make it a 4-3 contest and put Highlander runners at first and second. The junior right-hander then settled in and struck out the next two batters to nail down the win and record his 12th save of the season.
Zavala would finish with two hits, two RBI and a run scored while Zier also had a pair of hits, RBI and run scored.
Up next for San Diego State is a return to Mountain West action as it visits Reno for a three-game series against Nevada this weekend. The first game of that set is scheduled for Friday, Apr. 11, at 6:00 p.m. at the Wolf Pack's Peccole Park.