LAS VEGAS - The San Diego Aztecs (35-28) earned their spot in the 2004 Mountain West Conference Championship Saturday as they advanced past New Mexico (26-29-1) by a score of 24-8 over New Mexico Friday night. With the win, the Aztecs will face UNLV at 3 p.m. If the Aztecs win at 3 p.m., there would be a second game beginning at 7 p.m. between SDSU and UNLV.
The Lobos took advantage of a throwing error by Aztec sophomore shortstop James Guerrero as freshman first baseman Daniel Stovall came in to score for the first run of the night.
From then on it was all Aztecs as SDSU posted nineteen runs in the second and third innings to blow the game wide open, setting an MWC Tournament record with 11 runs in the third.
In the bottom of the second, the Aztecs pounded out eight runs, benefiting from home runs by senior left fielder Josh Hill and sophomore right fielder Curt Mendoza. They also got RBI doubles from senior first basemen Rielly Embrey and second baseman Lance Zawadzki. The Aztecs knocked two more zingers over the wall in right field, getting three-run shots from both center fielder Landon Burt and third baseman Brock Ungricht. SDSU finished the third inning with eight RBI, just one shy of a MWC record.
New Mexico got a home run in the sixth from catcher Jeff Grady and a three-run shot by first baseman Tim Grady in the ninth, but the Lobos couldn't keep up with the Aztecs, who finished the night with 24 runs off of 21 hits.
New Mexico starter, junior right-hander Karsten Gaarder (3-3), was charged with the loss, giving up seven earned runs on six hits in just one and two-thirds innings on the mound. New Mexico center fielder Matt Young was 4-for-5 with two RBI while designated hitter Joe Salas was 4-for-5. Tim Grady was 1-for-3 with three RBI.
SDSU starter Bruce Billings went three innings, giving up one run on three hits before reliever Chris Hartshorn took over. Hartshorn (5-4), who picked up the win, threw five innings giving up four runs on 11 hits while walking one and striking out five.
Ungricht piloted the potent Aztec offense, finishing the game 5-for-6 with five runs scored, two home runs and an MWC Tournament record seven RBI. Hill ended the night 2-for-4 with three RBI while Burt was 2-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI.
GAME 9 NOTES
No. 1 seed San Diego State, winners over No. 2 seed New Mexico in tonight's semifinal contest, will make its fifth straight appearance in the MWC Tournament finals and has a 1-3 record in title games. The Aztecs face No. 3 seed UNLV in Saturday's championship at 3 p.m. The Rebels are 1-0 in title games after defeating SDSU in last year's title tilt.
Saturday's finalists, SDSU and UNLV, are the only two MWC teams to go 4-0 in the MWC Tournament: SDSU in 2000 and UNLV in 2003. Entering the title game, SDSU is 15-7 all-time in the MWC Tournament, while the Rebels are 10-6.
SDSU leads the all-time series 44-28 vs. UNLV, but the Rebels have a 4-1 mark vs. the Aztecs in MWC Tournament play, including a 14-3 victory on Friday in the semifinals.
The No. 1 seed is 2-1 all-time in MWC Tournament title games, while the No. 3 seed is 1-0. BYU (2001) and UNLV (2003) won the title as No. 1 seeds, while the top-seeded Aztecs were runner-up in 2002. BYU won the crown as a No. 3 seed in 2002. (BYU is the only team to dethrone an unbeaten team in the MWC Tournament finals, doing so in 2002 in Provo. The No. 3 seed Cougars entered the title game with a loss (3-1), but swept SDSU in the finals after the Aztecs entered the title game with a 3-0 mark).
The winner of Saturday's MWC Championship game will earn an automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Overall, the MWC has a 4-6 record in the NCAA since the league was formed in 1999-2000. A look at the last NCAA appearance for the MWC Tournament finalists:
UNLV: 2003 at Tempe, Ariz.
(2-2, lost to New Mexico State 12-14 (11 inn), def. Central Conn. State 22-3, def. New Mexico State 16-10, lost to Arizona State 1-16)
SDSU: 1991 at Fresno, Calif.
(0-2, lost to Stanford, 12-5, and Portland, 12-5)
San Diego State's 24-8 victory over New Mexico is the largest margin of victory in an MWC Tournament semifinal game.
The Aztecs hit four home runs over a span of two innings in tonight's game and have eight total for the tournament, tying New Mexico for the MWC Tournament lead (Utah holds the tournament record with 9 in 2001). As a team, the Aztecs tied the MWC Tournament record with five homers vs. the Lobos tonight.
SDSU freshman Brock Ungricht was 5-for-6 with MWC Tournament records for RBI (7) and runs scored (5), while hitting two home runs tonight vs. New Mexico. Lance Zawadzki was 3-for-4 for SDSU.
SDSU and UNM combined for MWC Tournament records for hits (38) and runs (32) in tonight's game. Joe Salas and Matt Young were each 4-for-5 for the Lobos.
Run production is at an all-time high this season in the MWC Tournament. All-time total run production in the MWC Tournament:
Conference championship scoring summary:
2000 Championship - at Las Vegas
combined runs per game avg.: 14.8 (148 runs scored - 10 games)
2001 Championship - at San Diego
combined runs per game avg.: 12.3 (135 runs scored - 11 games)
2002 Championship - at Provo
combined runs per game avg.: 16.6 (183 runs scored - 11 games)
2003 Championship - at Albuquerque
combined runs per game avg.: 14.3 (143 runs scored - 10 games)
2004 Championship - at Las Vegas
(through 9 complete games, including 32 runs in tonight's game)
combined runs per game avg.: 18.6 (167 runs scored - 9 games)
All-time team run production in the MWC Tournament:
2004 UNLV 42 (14 per game - 3 games)
2004 UNM 49 (12.3 per game - 4 games)
2003 UNLV 49 (12.3 per game - 4 games)
2004 SDSU 35 (11.7 runs per game - 3 games)
2002 UNLV 44 (11 runs per game - 4 games)
UNLV is ranked second nationally for run production this season, averaging over nine runs per game.
Score by Innings R H E
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New Mexico.......... 010 010 123 - 8 18 2
San Diego State..... 08(11) 003 02X - 24 21 1
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E - FOOTE(3); MADER(17); GUERRERO(20). DP - San Diego St 1. LOB - New Mexico
10; San Diego St 4. 2B - YOUNG(10); EMBREY(19); UNGRICHT(21); ZAWADZKI(10);
HILL(6). 3B - YOUNG(12); GUERRERO(4). HR - GRADY, T.(4); GRADY, J.(9);
BURT(6); UNGRICHT 2(3); HILL(5); MENDOZA(6). HBP - GUERRERO. CS - SALAS(1).
New Mexico IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
GAARDER, Karsten.... 1.2 6 7 7 1 4 11 12
PACAS, Petr......... 0.2 4 6 5 1 1 7 9
SMITH, Jackie....... 0.0 3 3 2 0 0 3 3
LETZ, Kevin......... 3.2 5 6 3 2 4 17 19
COLTRINARI, Darren.. 2.0 3 2 2 0 1 9 9
San Diego State IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
BILLINGS, Bruce..... 3.0 3 1 0 0 5 12 12
HARTSHORN, Chris.... 5.0 11 4 4 1 5 25 26
DOUGLAS, Brett...... 1.0 4 3 3 0 2 7 7
Win - HARTSHORN (5-4). Loss - GAARDER (3-3). Save - None.
WP - BILLINGS(10). HBP - by PACAS (GUERRERO). PB - GRADY, J. 2(9).
Umpires - HP: Raymond Belfiore 1B: Keith Bailey 2B: Ken Bayne 3B: Dan
Perugini Start: 7 pm Time: 3:08 Attendance: 894
Game notes:
ID-264357
2004 MWC Tournament Game Nine
San Diego State advances to championship game, New Mexico is eliminated.
SDSU's Brock Ungricht sets MWC Tournament record with seven RBI.
SMITH, J. faced 3 batters in the 3rd.
Game: MWC9
Play-by-Play
2004 Mountain West Baseball
San Diego State 24 (35-28), New Mexico 8 (26-29-1) - Play-by-Play
May 28, 2004 at Las Vegas, Nev. (Earl E. Wilson)
Score by Innings R H E
----------------------------------------------
New Mexico.......... 010 010 123 - 8 18 2
San Diego State..... 08(11) 003 02X - 24 21 1
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New Mexico 1st - YOUNG flied out to ss. FOOTE struck out swinging. MADER
struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
San Diego State 1st - BURT grounded out to ss. GUERRERO struck out looking.
EMBREY struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 2nd - SALAS singled to first base. SALAS out at second c to ss,
caught stealing. MURRAY struck out looking. STOVALL singled to right field. STOVALL
advanced to second on a wild pitch. DABBS reached on an error by ss, advanced to
second on the error; STOVALL scored, unearned. GRADY, J. struck out swinging. 1
run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 2nd - UNGRICHT singled to left field. ZAWADZKI singled
through the right side; UNGRICHT advanced to third. ZAWADZKI advanced to second;
UNGRICHT scored on a passed ball. HILL homered to right field, 2 RBI; ZAWADZKI
scored. CORONA struck out swinging. MENDOZA homered to right center, RBI. SWAYDAN
walked. BURT singled to left field; SWAYDAN advanced to second. GUERRERO struck out
looking. EMBREY doubled to center field, 2 RBI; BURT scored; SWAYDAN scored. PACAS
to p for GAARDER. UNGRICHT singled to right field, RBI; EMBREY scored. ZAWADZKI
doubled to center field, RBI; UNGRICHT scored. HILL struck out swinging. 8 runs,
8 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 3rd - RUSSELL fouled out to lf. YOUNG singled. FOOTE struck out
swinging. MADER flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 3rd - CORONA singled up the middle. COULTER pinch ran for
CORONA. MENDOZA reached on a fielder's choice; COULTER advanced to second on an
error by 2b. SWAYDAN lined out to p. BURT homered to right center, 3 RBI; MENDOZA
scored; COULTER scored, unearned. GUERRERO hit by pitch. EMBREY walked; GUERRERO
advanced to second. SMITH, J. to p for PACAS. UNGRICHT homered to right center, 3
RBI; EMBREY scored; GUERRERO scored. ZAWADZKI singled to right field. HILL doubled
up the middle, RBI; ZAWADZKI scored. COULTER to dh. LETZ to p for SMITH, J.. COULTER
struck out looking. MENDOZA walked. SWAYDAN reached on an error by ss; MENDOZA
advanced to second; HILL advanced to third. BURT walked, RBI; SWAYDAN advanced to
second; MENDOZA advanced to third; HILL scored, unearned. GUERRERO tripled to center
field, 3 RBI; BURT scored, unearned; SWAYDAN scored, unearned; MENDOZA scored,
unearned. EMBREY grounded out to 2b. 11 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 4th - HARTSHORN to p for BILLINGS. SALAS singled to left field.
MURRAY grounded out to 1b unassisted; SALAS advanced to second. STOVALL grounded out
to ss. DABBS grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 4th - UNGRICHT struck out looking. ZAWADZKI lined out to 3b.
HILL lined out to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 5th - BURT to lf. HALL to cf for HILL. GRADY, J. homered to left
center, RBI. RUSSELL struck out swinging. YOUNG singled through the left side. FOOTE
struck out swinging. MADER singled to right field; YOUNG advanced to second. SALAS
grounded out to 2b. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 5th - COULTER grounded out to ss. MENDOZA struck out
swinging. SWAYDAN struck out swinging. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
New Mexico 6th - CHANGNON to ss for GUERRERO. WILSON to 3b for UNGRICHT.
PEPPER to 2b for ZAWADZKI. UNGRICHT to c for WILSON. WILSON to 3b for SWAYDAN.
MURRAY singled. STOVALL struck out swinging. DABBS singled to third base; MURRAY
advanced to second. GRADY, J. struck out looking. RUSSELL reached on a fielder's
choice; DABBS out at second ss to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
San Diego State 6th - GRADY, T. to 1b for STOVALL. BURT lined out to 2b.
CHANGNON singled to second base. EMBREY singled up the middle; CHANGNON advanced to
second. UNGRICHT doubled to center field, RBI; EMBREY advanced to third; CHANGNON
scored. PEPPER grounded out to ss, RBI; UNGRICHT advanced to third; EMBREY scored.
HALL singled to shortstop, RBI; UNGRICHT scored. COULTER reached on a fielder's
choice; HALL out at second 2b unassisted. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 7th - YOUNG tripled to left center. FOOTE grounded out to 2b, RBI;
YOUNG scored. MADER singled to third base. SALAS singled to center field; MADER
advanced to second. MURRAY grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; SALAS out on
the play. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 7th - COLTRINARI to p for LETZ. MENDOZA grounded out to 3b.
WILSON struck out looking. BURT grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
New Mexico 8th - RAUCH to 1b for EMBREY. GRADY, T. walked. DABBS reached on a
fielder's choice; GRADY, T. out at second ss to 2b. GRADY, J. struck out looking.
RUSSELL singled to left field; DABBS advanced to second. YOUNG doubled to left
center, 2 RBI; RUSSELL scored; DABBS scored. FOOTE grounded out to 2b. 2 runs, 2
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
San Diego State 8th - CHANGNON singled up the middle. RAUCH reached on a
fielder's choice; CHANGNON out at second p to ss. RAUCH advanced to second on a
passed ball. UNGRICHT homered to right center, 2 RBI; RAUCH scored. PEPPER flied out
to rf. HALL singled to right field. COULTER grounded out to p unassisted. 2 runs,
3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
New Mexico 9th - DOUGLAS to p for HARTSHORN. MADER singled to right field.
SALAS singled through the right side; MADER advanced to third. MURRAY flied out to
lf. GRADY, T. homered to left center, 3 RBI; SALAS scored; MADER scored. DABBS
struck out swinging. GRADY, J. singled to left field. RUSSELL struck out swinging.
3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Line score
San Diego State 24, New Mexico 8 (May 28, 2004 at Las Vegas, Nev.)
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New Mexico.......... 010 010 123 - 8 18 2 (26-29-1)
San Diego State..... 08(11) 003 02X - 24 21 1 (35-28)
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Pitchers: New Mexico - GAARDER; PACAS(2); SMITH, J.(3); LETZ(3); COLTRINARI(7).
San Diego State - BILLINGS; HARTSHORN(4); DOUGLAS(9).
Win-HARTSHORN(5-4) Loss-GAARDER(3-3) T-3:08 A-894
HR NM - GRADY, T. (4); GRADY, J. (9).
HR SD - BURT (6); UNGRICHT 2 (3); HILL (5); MENDOZA (6).
Game notes:
ID-264357
2004 MWC Tournament Game Nine
San Diego State advances to championship game, New Mexico is eliminated.
SDSU's Brock Ungricht sets MWC Tournament record with seven RBI.
SMITH, J. faced 3 batters in the 3rd.
Game: MWC9
