Feb. 17, 2017
The beginning of a weekend storm system forced a premature halt to San Diego State's baseball game against Pacific Friday afternoon with the Aztecs holding a 9-4 lead late in the contest. The game marked the season opener for both teams.
SDSU was ahead, 9-4, in the top of the eighth inning with two out and a runner at first for the Tigers when the rain put an end to the days' proceedings. The contest will be resumed from that point on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4:00 p.m. The second contest of the three-game series will get underway approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the halted game.
San Diego State fell behind early Friday afternoon as UOP right fielder Danny Mayer hit a home run in the opening frame to stake the Tigers to a 1-0 lead. The game was played in cold, cloudy conditions with winds gusting toward left field.
It did not take the Aztecs long to respond as they struck for five runs in the bottom of the second, sending nine men to the plate and collecting six hits.
A one-out wind-aided triple by Jordan Verdon started the rally and was followed by an RBI ground out by Andrew Martinez. SDSU then put together five consecutive singles, getting RBI from Denz'l Chapman, Alan Trejo and Danny Sheehan (two).
Pacific got back into the game in the top of the fifth with three unearned runs courtesy of a bases-load wind-aided double to dead center by Lucas Halstead.
The Aztecs, however, regained control of the contest by scoring four times over the next three innings. Those markers came on a solo home run by Andrew Brown in the sixth and sacrifice flies by Verdon in both the fifth and seventh.
SDSU starting pitcher Brett Seeburger pitched into the sixth inning before being lifted in favor of newcomer Jorge Fernandez. Seeburger went 5.2 innings allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Fernandez had tossed two shutout innings, surrendering a hit and striking out three with no walks when the game was halted.
San Diego State has 12 hits through its first seven innings of offense including two apiece by Sheehan, Martinez, Brown and catcher Dean Nevarez.