April 19, 2016
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State got an excellent balance of pitching and hitting as it defeated visiting UC Irvine, 5-1, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win ended a three-game skid for the Aztecs, who improved to 11-23 on the year by finishing off a sweep of the two games between the teams this season.
San Diego State got an excellent balance of pitching and hitting as it defeated visiting UC Irvine, 5-1, Tuesday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The win ended a three-game skid for the Aztecs, who improved to 11-23 on the year.
As is the case with many mid-week contests, both teams used a number of pitchers to help prepare for upcoming weekend conference series. The Anteaters (20-13) utilized a total of eight hurlers while SDSU had five in action over the nine innings.
After a scoreless opening frame, the Aztecs got to UCI right-hander Chris Vargas for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Vargas, making his first start of the year after nine relief appearances, saw Spencer Thornton drive a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to put the home side up 1-0.
Thornton's long ball was followed by a double to right center by Tyler Adkison and a two-out RBI single by Andrew Brown to make it a 2-0 game.
In the ensuing inning, Vargas surrendered a pair of unearned as SDSU extended its advantage to 4-0. A single by Chase Calabuig and an Anteater error that allowed Alan Trejo to reach base put runners at first and second with no outs. Both were sacrificed up a base by David Hensley after which Thornton received an intention pass to load the bases with one out.
Adkison then lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Calabuig and Andrew Brown lined a single to right to bring home Trejo.
Vargas' night would end after 2.2 innings during which he surrendered the four runs (two earned) on five hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. He would take the loss to even his season record at 1-1.
SDSU's final run came in the bottom of the fourth when Hensley's single to center brought home Justin Wylie, who had reached via a base on balls earlier in the frame.
Aztec junior left-hander Dominic Purpura, meanwhile, tossed the first five innings in what would be his longest outing the season. Over that span he gave up no runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout as he would pick up the victory and improve to 1-1.
The lone serious threat he faced came in the fifth inning when a single and double put runners at second and third with one out. But Purpura then induced a grounder to first for the second out followed by a ground ball to third to escape the jam.
Seven SDSU starters had hits in the contest. Catcher CJ Saylor, making his first appearance since suffering a concussion on March 25, made the most of his opportunity by finishing with a pair of singles and a walk in four plate appearances. Chase Calabuig also had two singles and scored a run.
San Diego State will now prepare to resume Mountain West action as it travels to Albuquerque for a three-game series against league-leading New Mexico this weekend. That's set gets underway with a contest on Friday, April 22, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lobos' Santa Ana Star Field. .
As is the case with many mid-week contests, both teams used a number of pitchers to help prepare for upcoming weekend conference series. The Anteaters (20-13) utilized a total of eight hurlers while SDSU had five in action over the nine innings.
After a scoreless opening frame, the Aztecs got to UCI right-hander Chris Vargas for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Vargas, making his first start of the year after nine relief appearances, saw Spencer Thornton drive a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence to put the home side up 1-0.
Thornton's long ball was followed by a double to right center by Tyler Adkison and a two-out RBI single by Andrew Brown to make it a 2-0 game.
In the ensuing inning, Vargas surrendered a pair of unearned as SDSU extended its advantage to 4-0. A single by Chase Calabuig and an Anteater error that allowed Alan Trejo to reach base put runners at first and second with no outs. Both were sacrificed up a base by David Hensley after which Thornton received an intention pass to load the bases with one out.
Adkison then lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Calabuig and Andrew Brown lined a single to right to bring home Trejo.
Vargas' night would end after 2.2 innings during which he surrendered the four runs (two earned) on five hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. He would take the loss to even his season record at 1-1.
SDSU's final run came in the bottom of the fourth when Hensley's single to center brought home Justin Wylie, who had reached via a base on balls earlier in the frame.
Aztec junior left-hander Dominic Purpura, meanwhile, tossed the first five innings in what would be his longest outing the season. Over that span he gave up no runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout as he would pick up the victory and improve to 1-1.
The lone serious threat he faced came in the fifth inning when a single and double put runners at second and third with one out. But Purpura then induced a grounder to first for the second out followed by a ground ball to third to escape the jam.
Seven SDSU starters had hits in the contest. Catcher CJ Saylor, making his first appearance since suffering a concussion on March 25, made the most of his opportunity by finishing with a pair of singles and a walk in four plate appearances. Chase Calabuig also had two singles and scored a run.
San Diego State will now prepare to resume Mountain West action as it travels to Albuquerque for a three-game series against league-leading New Mexico this weekend. That's set gets underway with a contest on Friday, April 22, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lobos' Santa Ana Star Field.