Feb. 14, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - In a game that saw the lead change hands six times, San Diego State had the final say as it defeated Valparaiso, 22-12, Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The teams combined for 37 hits including 10 doubles, two triples and three home runs on an afternoon that saw a total of 13 pitchers utilized by the two squads.
Brett Seeburger made his first start of the season for SDSU, but would last only three innings as the visitors scored in each of the first three frames. But thanks to his team's four-run outburst in the second, Seeburger left the contest with the score knotted at 4-4.
The Crusader continued to battle and, after recoding only five hits in Friday night's contest, showed their offensive side as the tallied four runs in the top of the fourth to go up 8-4. But the Aztecs answered with four in the bottom of the frame to make it an 8-8 contest.
San Diego state then took its largest lead of the game to that point with three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 11-8. Those markers came courtesy of RBI singles by Seby Zavala, Ryan Muno and Steven Pallares.
Just when it looked like the home team would take control of the contest, Valpo had other ideas as it responded with four runs in the top of the sixth to take a 12-11 lead. Three of those runs came on a three-run homer to left by right fielder Dustin Beasley.
SDSU would have the final say, however, as it scored four times in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good at 15-12. The big blow in the inning was a two-out two-run single by Pallares, who also scored the final run of the frame.
Pallares was one of a number of offensive stars on the afternoon for SDSU as he ended the day with five hits including a double, three runs scored and four runs batted in as the Aztecs' designated hitter.
Pallares, a senior form Corona, Calif., also proved effective on the mound as he tossed 1.1 innings of shutout relief late in the contest. He was the pitcher of record when the Aztecs went ahead in their half of the sixth and as a result was credited with the win, the first of his limited SDSU pitching career.
San Diego State would seal the victory with a seven-run eighth inning highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of catcher Seby Zavala. Spencer Thornton added a two-run single in the inning as the Aztecs sent 12 men to the plate.
Redshirt freshman Jacob Erickson, making his first career appearance at San Diego State, tossed the final 2.1 innings allowing no runs on a hit with three strikeouts. His effort earned him his first career save.
Eight of the Aztecs nine starters tallied at least a hit and RBI. Ryan Muno ended the day with four hits, three RBI and two runs scored while Ty France had three hits (single, double, triple) along with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. In addition, freshman Justin Wylie scored four runs and had a pair of singles.
Valparaiso and San Diego State will conclude their three-game season-opening series\s in Sunday (Feb. 15) with a contest slated to begin at noon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.