Ninth-Inning Throwing Error Allows Texas El Paso to Beat San Diego State

Steve Hokama’s throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning allowed Joe Morales to score the winning run and gave Texas El Paso a 2-1 win over San Diego State in a Western Athletic Conference Southern Division college baseball game Tuesday night at El Paso, Tex.

The defeat left SDSU (41-22-1 overall) with a 5-8 record in conference play and dropped the Aztecs 3 1/2 games behind front-running Hawaii and New Mexico. UTEP improved to 4-9 in the WAC.

The teams continue their four-game series today with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.

San Diego State scored first on Monday when Deron Johnson doubled off starter and winner Ed Tafoya and came home on Steve Hill’s single in the fourth inning. The Miners tied the contest in the seventh when Hill dropped Kurt Knowles’ two-out popup in short left field and allowed Roger Smith to score.

In the bottom of the ninth, Morales reached first on a fielder’s choice against starter and loser Mike Erb (7-3). Ron Morello followed with a single and when Hokama tried to cut down Morales at third, his throw hit the runner’s heel and caromed away allowing the winning run to score.

San Diego State outhit Texas El Paso, 11-5, with Johnson, Hill, Chris Gwynn and Mark Grace all getting two hits.

“We got a lot of hits, but all of our rallies seemed to start with two out,” Aztec Coach Jim Dietz said. “We just couldn’t get any timely hits to drive in the runs.”

The Aztecs will finish their four-game series in El Paso Wednesday before moving on to Albuquerque to start a four-game series against New Mexico on Friday.