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BB: Season Ends for SDSU After Loss to the Cougars

May 26th, 2011

In a microcosm San Diego State's 2011 season, a combination of offensive struggles, base running errors, pitching woes and defensive miscues all contributed to an 8-2 loss to Brigham Young Thursday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The result brought an end to the Aztecs' season as they were eliminated from this year's Mountain West Conference Tournament. With the loss SDSU finished with an overall record of 22-36.

San Diego State had a chance to take the early lead, putting runners on first and third in the opening frame on a walk to Pat Colwell and a single by Jomel Torres with one out, but they were unable to cash in as a strikeout and fly ball to center ended the inning. That would be a theme much of the afternoon as the Aztecs would leave the bases loaded twice and run themselves into an unusual triple play late in the contest.

Brigham Young on the other hand was able to take advantage of its first scoring opportunity as a two-out single by Andrew Law brought home Dillon Robinson with the first run of the game in the bottom of the third.

The Aztecs tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth on a double by Chris Wilson and RBI single by Tim Zier, but after that they were unable to score until the final inning.

The Cougars, meanwhile, jumped out to a 4-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth off SDSU sophomore right-hander Ethan Miller. Those runs, two of which scored with two out, came courtesy of three hits and an error along with a fielder's choice on which the Aztecs failed to tag a Cougar caught in a run down. The error made two of those runs unearned and it would be enough to make a loser of Miller (4-5).

Brigham Young (31-27) extended its lead by scoring three times over next two innings against Ryan Wynveen, who had come on in relief to begin the fifth. In the senior's first frame on the mound a walk, wild pitch, sac bunt and sac fly led to the Cougars' fifth run. In the sixth it was three straight singles along with another wild pitch that contributed to a pair of runs and made it a 7-1 contest.

The Aztecs looked ready to get back into the contest in the top of the seventh they loaded the bases on walks to Evan Potter and Pat Cowell sandwiched around a double by Cody Smith. Jomel Torres then lifted a pop fly just behind second base. With the infield fly rule in effect, BYU shortstop Andrew Law camped under it but lost it in the sun and the ball fell untouched. Confusion reigned among the SDSU base runners and Law picked up the ball and was able to tag Smith off second base before tagging Pat Cowell coming toward second. The unassisted triple play effectively ended SDSU's hopes for a comeback.

After the Cougars added a run in the bottom of the frame, San Diego State scored a run in its final at bat on a double by Tim Zier and fielding error. The Aztec also had a runner thrown out at the plate in the inning and concluded the game by leaving the bases loaded. BYU starter Desmond Poulson, who went six innings allowing a run on six hits with eight strikeouts, was credited with the win remain perfect on the year at 6-0.

SDSU center fielder Cody Smith accounted for three of the Aztecs' nine hits with a pair of singles and a double. Smith ended the week by going 8-for-13 over three tournament games. Tim Zier also had a pair of hits with an RBI and run scored while senior Pat Colwell had two hits in his final game as an Aztec.

Article Courtesy of SDSU Athletics