YUMA, Ariz. — There’s something about Desert Sun Stadium thatbrings out the best in San Diego State.
Or the worst. Sometimes both.
Saturday night against Nevada, SDSU (10-5) did everything right.Then suddenly, it almost went all wrong.
Starting pitcher Rory Shortell (3-1) had a two-hit shutout throughthe first five innings. The offense helped him plenty, roughing upthe Wolf Pack (5-7) for 10 runs on 12 hits.
After surrendering a two-run homer in the sixth, Shortell gave upthree more runs in the seventh, then let the first two men in theeighth reach base before he got the hook. The inherited runners wereallowed to score before Erik Fiedler bailed the Aztecs out.
After a Chad Corona solo shot in the sixth, a two-run double bycatcher Josh Allen in the eighth gave SDSU some breathing room with a13-7 lead. Fiedler finished the game to pick up the well-deservedsave.
“I’ve been looking forward to (a situation like that) for awhile,” Fiedler said. “I enjoyed it.”
Said head coach Jim Dietz: “He had a forkball from hell. No onecould hit it.”
Friday’s starter Chris Dunwell (1-2) didn’t get any kind of runsupport. Other than a solo home run from Jon Stephens, Dunwell — wholost his last decision 1-0 — had no help.
Nevada starter Darrell Rasner, on the other hand, had more helpthan he needed. While holding the Aztecs to five hits and strikingout nine, his offense touched up Dunwell for three runs in the fifthto take a 4-1 lead.
SDSU’s bullpen did not help matters, going on to allow six moreruns to score, as the Aztecs fell 10-1. The defense was partly toblame, as two errors led to three unearned runs.
The following night, every Aztecs starter had a hit. Jon Stephenswent 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Taber Lee showed signsof breaking out of his slump, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a runscored.
Jake McLintock added two hits while showing off a solid glove inright field.
“Coach told us what we needed to work on (after Friday),” Stephenssaid. “We got anxious. He said to settle down and to relax a littlebit. We’re happy about tonight. It made up for what we did (Friday).”
Quotable
“It was like the circus came to town.” — Head coach Jim Dietz onFriday’s 10-1 loss.
Similarity … or not?
On the surface, it would appear that Desert Sun Stadium hassomething in common with Tony Gwynn Stadium. The park has deepfences, wide-open surroundings and the games start after 6 p.m.
The mound also appears to be shaped more like an Arizona mesa thana hill. Fiedler didn’t seem to care, though.
“The mound is good,” he said. “It’s big, but it’s got a goodslope.”
