College Baseball : Gwynn Returns to Lead Aztecs

All-American outfielder Chris Gwynn started for the first time Monday and had two hits and an RBI to help the sixth-ranked San Diego State baseball team to a 6-3 victory over the University of San Diego in a nonconference game at USD.

Deron Johnson contributed three hits and two RBIs to help the Aztecs win their seventh game without a loss this season. USD fell to 3-6.

After missing the first six games this season because of a chipped bone in his left wrist, Gwynn got going early Monday.

He doubled off of the base of the center-field fence to ignite a two-run Aztec outburst in the first inning. In the second, he picked up his first RBI of the season with a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0.

After the Aztecs went ahead 5-0, USD battled back on Mike Leite’s bases-loaded double which made it 5-3 in the seventh inning.

But Russ Elsberry shut down the Toreros over the final two innings to save the win for starter Mike Erb (2-0). Starter Greg Bertrand (1-3) was loser for USD.

In other action Monday:

UC Irvine 11, UCSD 1--Tom Baine and Don Davis hit back-to-back home runs in a seven-run seventh inning to key the Anteaters’ nonconference victory at Irvine.