Seemingly nothing has gone right for the 2010 San Diego State Aztecs. Why would the opening round of the Mountain West Conference tournament be any different?
Head coach Tony Gwynn went with his ace starter in the tourney opener against Utah, only to see Addison Reed handed his first conference loss of the season in an error-filled 12-6 loss at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Utah senior third baseman Nick Kuroczko (pictured) keyed a seven-run fourth inning with a pair of doubles, including a three-run double with two outs. Kuroczko finished the game 5-for-5 with 5 RBI.
The Aztecs jumped ahead 2-0 after three innings, taking advantage of a pair of Utah errors and a trio of infield hits. However, the worm was about to turn quickly for San Diego State and their second-team all-conference starting pitcher.
Reed (8-2) was hung with eight runs (three earned) allowed in six innings, with eight hits, four walks, seven strikeouts, and a wild pitch. The junior was frustrated from the start of the fourth inning until the finish, victimized both by his own command, poor defense, and some close calls that went against him.
Jomel Torres reached base four times but his defense was costly for SDSU
The fateful frame started with Kuroczko chopping a bounder just fair inside the first base bag and over the head of Jomel Torres for a double. Gwynn argued the call of first base umpire Bill Van Raaphorst but came up empty. Conference player of the year C.J. Kron then lined a double to left-center to bring Utah within a run at 2-1.
After a walk to cleanup batter Nik Gumeson, Utah catcher Jo Jo Sharrar squared to bunt. Torres charged down the first base line and fielded Sharrar’s bunt with plenty of time to throw to third, but his throw skipped past third baseman Chris Wilson and down the line for a three base error and a 3-2 Utah lead.
As the inning continued, a miscommunication between Reed and Torres allowed a comebacker to go for an infield single to prolong the inning, when both players went for the ball and nobody covered the bag at first. The fundamental misplay (which happened twice on the night) came back to haunt Reed when he loaded the bases for Kuroczko, who picked on Addison’s first pitch for a bases clearing double off the left field wall.
Behind another fine night at the plate from junior outfielder Cory Vaughn (3-for-5, 2 2B, 3RBI, 20 game hitting streak), the Aztecs climbed back within two runs at 8-6, but SDSU left 14 runners on base in a night that featured plenty of chances but not enough big hits.
Junior left-hander Rick Anton (8-3) scattered 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings for the win, allowing six runs, four earned. Tyler Wagner, who has been a revelation in the Utes bullpen during conference play, threw 3 2/3’s hitless innings of relief to earn his 3rd save, walking two and striking out five.
Addison Reed and the Aztecs face an almost impossible task
Tuesday night’s loss didn’t end the Aztecs season, but it might as well have been an elimination game. For an injury-crippled team which lacks even one proven starter beyond Addison Reed, SDSU has now shot their lone bullet and missed.
To win the MWC tourney, the Aztecs would need to beat BYU at 11am on Wednesday morning, and then win doubleheaders on both Thursday and Friday to force a one-game championship on Saturday. Reed might be able to start again on Saturday, or relieve on Friday, but the idea of SDSU extending their season until then seems fantastic at best.
Craig Elsten -
Chris Ello -
Chainsaw -
