Feb. 2, 2003
Santa Barbara, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara baseball lost to San Diego State for the second day in a row, by a score of 6-3. The loss dropped the Gauchos to 1-2 on the freshly started season. San Diego State improved their record to 2-4 on the year. After opening up the series, and the season, with a 2-1 victory, Sunday's loss combined with Saturday's 10-2 defeat gave the series victory to San Diego State. Ronnie Lindsey (1-0) earned the victory for the Aztecs. Eric Posthumus (0-1), who pitched solidly for the Gauchos, was given credit for the loss. Will Miller earned his first save on the seaon for San Diego.
Posthumus pitched the first six and a third innings for the Gauchos, giving up two earned runs off of four hits. He also had two other unearned runs score against him. He left the game striking out six, walking one, and hitting one batter.
The big inning for San Diego State came in the third when they pushed three players across the plate. A one-out error by shortstop Josh Fulton allowed Landon Burt to reach base. After an Anthony Gwynn double, a misplay by Gaucho center fielder Matt Emerick on James Guerrero's fly ball brought in two runs. Emerick lost the ball in the sun, had to readjust, and wasn't able to pick it up in time. Guerrero was credited with a triple on the play. A sacrifice fly by the next batter, Pete Stonard, brought in the third run of the inning.
While Posthumus was doing his best to keep the Aztec bats subdued, Lindsey was doing an equal job shutting down the Gaucho lineup. The fourth inning brought doubles by Matt Wilkerson and Josh McCanne, bringing in the only run that UCSB could produce against San Diego's starter. A solo home run by Emerick as well as a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Matt Stevens in the seventh inning came against relief pitching. Emerick's home run marked the third straight day that the Gauchos have launched one out, but with all three coming with the bases empty. It was also the first home run of Emerick's collegiate career.
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After Santa Barbara scored twice in the seventh to close the gap to one run, San Diego tallied one run in both the eighth and ninth innings to help ensure the victory. In the ninth, a leadoff double by catcher Chad Ziemendorf followed by a walk to Greg Powers started a rally, but the SDSU closer extinguished the fire before damage could be done. Ziemendorf, who also singled in the game, reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances. Each time at bat, he stepped up to the plate with nobody on and nobody out, and each time he made it on base.
Gaucho first baseman McCanne ended the day two for four with one RBI. San Diego State's shortstop Guerrero was also two for four with three RBI.
After Friday's standing-room only attendance, 575 fans showed up for the last game of this series. The stadium should continue to be filled on Tuesday when USC comes to town for a one game match-up. That game at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium on campus is at 2:00 PM.
