By Joel SartanSenior Staff Writer
Ten months is a long time to wait for anything. But that’s howlong San Diego State (18-9, 2-1 Mountain West Conference) has had towait for a rematch of last year’s conference championship gameagainst BYU (9-12-1, 3-0 MWC).
“We’ve got some vengeance to pay,” SDSU second baseman Carlo Cotasaid.
Last May, BYU came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat SDSU 4-3 atTony Gwynn Stadium for the MWC crown. This weekend, the teams meet inProvo in Week two of conference competition.
“They came into our house and took the conference championshipfrom us,” Cota said. “That doesn’t sit well with us.”
Another thing that might cause some unrest is the number ofrunners the Aztecs have been leaving on base lately. Monday nightagainst Southern California, SDSU got 21 runners on base, only tostrand 14 of them in an 8-6 loss. In three games against Air Force,SDSU averaged nine per game.
“We’ve got to bounce back,” left fielder Josh Hill said. “Wedefinitely need to take two out of three, if not sweep them, to getback up on the positive side of things.”
Only two teams took two of three at BYU last year, though –neither of which was the Aztecs. In fact, SDSU was swept there. Andon the year, the Cougars went 10-4 at Larry H. Miller Field.
In 2002, however, the three-game set starting tonight will be thefirst three games played there.
“They’re a tough team no matter where they play,” said Hill.”Wherever they are, they’re just going to play the way they play.”
And the way they’ve been playing lately has been effective. Afterdropping 10 of its first 12 games, BYU has won seven of its last 10,with one ending in a tie.
Right fielder Matt Carson has been the leading offensive weapon,batting .375 with five home runs and 24 RBI, while slugging .659.First baseman Dave Jensen is hitting .333 with four jacks and 17ribbies.
But as is often the case with the Cougars, pitching is anotherstory. The team’s ERA currently stands at 6.79. The top threestarters — Scott Koffman, Ryan Adams and Jeff Stone — are acombined 3-8 with a 7.41 ERA.
It bears repeating, however, that at Provo’s mile-high altitude,anything can happen.
And even at this early stage of the season, this could prove to beone of the biggest series.
“Beating them there is going to make a statement and set a tonefor the rest of the year,” Cota said.
