With many of its starters forced to miss the game because of classes, a shorthanded San Diego State baseball team fell to Brigham Young University, 5-4, in a non-conference game in “The Bombs at the Beach Baseball Tournament” at Point Loma Nazarene College.
“We played a lot of guys who don’t usually play,” Aztecs starting pitcher Jeremy Cook said. “It was a real big confidence builder for all of us who played.”
The Aztecs started only two regulars, allowing several reserves to get much needed at bats. Seldom used third baseman Chris Yerke collected three base hits.
But it was one of the regulars, second baseman Tavares Comeaux, who gave SDSU the lead with a run-scoring single in the first inning. The hit extended Comeaux’s hitting streak to nine games.
“I haven’t been thinking about anything and I’m not going to start,” Comeaux said of his hot hitting. “I’m just happy things are going well and I hope they keep up.”
The lead was short-lived when the Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the second on an error by Yerke, allowing center fielder Casey Nelson to score.
BYU tacked on two more runs in the fourth when Cougar catcher Joseph Johanson blasted a two-run double off Cook.
In his first start of the season, Cook pitched four innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs.
“It’s great to get some actual innings against a team like BYU,” Cook said. “I get to see where I stand.”
All Aztec player Abel Herrera could do is stand and watch Johanson’s fly ball sail over the outfield wall for a home run in the bottom of the sixth.
SDSU rallied to tie the game, 4-4, in the top of the seventh on a three-run double off the wall by right fielder Paul Lockhart.
“I’m seeing the ball well,” Lockhart said. “I’m being real selective and hitting my pitches.”
BYU batters were selective in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring the go ahead run. SDSU reliever Matt Seiler got himself into quick trouble, walking lead-off hitter Hansen. One out later, he surrendered a base hit to Chris Circuit, putting runners at the corners.
Seiler was quickly lifted for closer Jeff Dufek, who hit Jason Wooley to load the bases. He hit the very next batter, David Decker, to force in the eventual winning run.
Line Drives
SDSU played BYU in a conference game last night at Tony Gwynn Stadium, wrapping up the three-game series. The Aztecs took the first two games on Friday and Saturday night.
“The Bombs at the Beach Tournament” continues today when SDSU takes on Dartmouth at 2:45 p.m. today at PLNC.
