Feb. 19, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State scored five runs over the opening three innings and went on to defeat UC Riverside, 6-2, Thursday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win the Aztecs registered their fifth win in five outings to begin their 2015 campaign while the Highlanders lost for the first time this season to drop to 4-1.
SDSU got the scoring started in the bottom of the first when Danny Sheehan drew a one-out walk, went to second on a single by Ty France and advanced to third on a fielder's choice off the bat of Seby Zavala. Senior Ryan Muno then single up the middle to bring home Sheehan and give the Aztecs a lead they would not relinquish.
Brody Westmoreland, a shortstop from Denver who was serving as the designated hitter, doubled San Diego State's advantage in the second when he took an 0-1 pitch from UCR starter Kevin Sprague over the left field fence for a home run in his first collegiate plate appearance.
The Aztecs tacked on three more in their half of the third as they loaded the bases on singles by Sheehan and France plus a hit batter to Seby Zavala. Muno then grounded a single through the right side to bring home two runs before a fielder's choice by Andrew Brown brought home the third marker of the frame.
SDSU starting pitcher Cody Thompson had a solid outing, going the first six innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. The effort was enough to earn him his first victory of the young season.
The Aztecs closed out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as they answered a run scored by the visitors in the top half of that frame. Justin Wylie walked to lead off the inning, stole second and went to third when the catcher's throw sailed into center field. Steven Pallares then doubled down the left field lien to plate Wylie with the final run of the contest.
The Highlanders tried to rally in the ninth, putting two men on base with one out. For the second night in a row, however, sophomore CJ Saylor came in facing that same situation and struck out the two batters he face to register the save, his third of the year.
UC Riverside and San Diego State will play game two of their four-game series on Friday, Feb. 20, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The venue will then switch to Riverside for games on Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively.