March 3, 2015
IRVINE, Calif. - San Diego State rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to overcome a one-run deficit and go on to defeat UC Irvine, 6-2, Tuesday night at Anteater Ballpark. The win was the seventh straight for the Aztecs, who improved to 12-1.
Offense was at a premium over the first half of the contest as SDSU's run in the top of the fifth was the lone marker until the seventh. The Aztecs had kept the game scoreless by throwing a runner out at the plate in the second inning before breaking into the run column themselves.
In the fifth, one-out singles by Alan Trejo and Brody Westmoreland set the table for Steven Pallares' RBI single to left that gave SDSU the 1-0 lead.
Aztec starting pitcher Marcus Reyes kept the Anteater hitters in check for the most part over the first six innings, but when he surrendered a leadoff single to start the bottom of the seventh he was lifted in favor of Zack Oakley. UCI (3-8) eventually loaded the bases on another single and an intentional walk, then got a two-out double to left by Mikey Duarte to take the lead for the first time at 2-1.
San Diego State began the top of the ninth in with a single by Westmoreland and double by Pallares. Danny Sheehan was hit by pitch to load the bases before a sacrifice fly to left by Ty France allowed Denz'l Chapman, who pinch ran for Westmoreland, to score the tying run. But the Aztecs were far from done.
Seby Zavala then came up and tripled to left field to drive home Pallares and Sheehan and give the Aztecs a 4-2 advantage. After a ground out to pitcher for the second out, walks to Andrew Brown and Chase Calabuig loaded the bases again. Trejo then laced a sharp single to left to bring home two more runs and provide the final 6-2 score line.
Brian Heldman, who had come on in the seventh and pitched through the eighth, was credited with the win to improve to 3-0. Closer CJ Saylor came on to start the ninth, and after surrendering a leadoff single, retired the next three batters to secure the victory.
Pallares and Westmoreland ended the evening with three hits apiece. For Pallares it was his fourth three-hit game in SDSU's last five contests. Sheehan and Trejo registered two hits apiece with the latter along with Zavala accounting for two RBI apiece.
Up next for San Diego State is a return to Mountain West play as it travels to Albuquerque, N.M., for a three-game series against conference foe New Mexico. That set gets underway on Friday, March 13, with a game scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. (MT) star at Lobo Field.