Utes Lose MWC Game To San Diego State

Thursday, May 3

Salt Lake City

12:00 PM MT

University of Utah

San Diego St

5/3/2001 12:00 AM | Baseball

May 3, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY--Utah baseball dropped it's first game in a three game Mountain West Conference series against opponent San Diego State 9-7 on May 3. Utah falls to 23-25, 11-14 MWC and San Diego State moves to 28-21, 15-9 MWC.

The Aztecs scored first in the game. Ben Leuthard hit a two-run double and later scored in the inning as the Aztecs led 3-0. The Utes answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning to cut the lead to 3-2. Sam Swenson singled and advanced to third on a single by Brit Pannier. Swenson scored on a single by Mike Westfall and Pannier advanced to third. Tommy Maestas singled to center field bringing Pannier home.

Utah took the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning after Chris Shelton hit a two-run home run scoring Nate Weese. San Diego State tied the game at 4-4 in the fourth and regained the lead in the fifth after scoring four runs (8-4). Utah added one run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 8-5.

In the bottom of the seventh inning Utah added two runs to cut the lead to 8-7. Brit Pannier doubled scoring Weese. Pannier scored on a single to left field by Westfall. But it wasn't enough for the Utes as San Diego State added another run in the ninth.

For the Utes, Shelton hit two home runs (15, 16). He went 3-for-5 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Pannier went 3-for-5 from the plate with one RBI and two runs scored and Westfall drove in two runs after going 3-for-5 from the plate. The Utes stranded nine runners and San Diego State left four on base.

Travis Palmer gets the loss for Utah after allowing nine runs and eleven hits in eight innings dropping him to 5-4 on the year. Marcos Mendoza earns the win for the Aztecs after giving up six runs off 12 hits in six innings of work. The second game of the series will be played Friday, May 4 at noon at Franklin Covey Field.