San Diego College Baseball : Johnson’s Home Run Gives SDSU Win Over Fresno

First baseman Deron Johnson’s home run in the bottom of the fifth inning gave San Diego State a 3-2 victory over Washington State in the third-place game of the Fresno State tournament.

The Cougars (10-6) had beaten the Aztecs (14-6-1) earlier in the week, 12-4. SDSU committed five errors in that game, but made only two Saturday. Both were in the same inning and cost SDSU one run.

The Aztecs’ Mike Erb (5-1) pitched a four-hitter. The Cougars had men on first and second with two out in the ninth, but Erb got a pinch-hitter to fly out to right for the final out. Erb retired 13 consecutive batters until a single with two out in the ninth.

SDSU’s Bob Parry was 3 for 4 with an RBI.

In West Coast Athletic Conference action:

USD 6-7, USF 13-3--After being routed in the first game, the host Toreros came back to defeat the Dons for their first WCAC win of the season.

USF (3-1 in conference, 16-7 overall) scored seven runs off three pitchers in the first inning of the opener. Loser Mike David gave up five runs in one third of an inning. Tony Battilega gave up two hits and two runs without an out, and Steve Mehok pitched the final 6, giving up six runs on nine hits. USD’s Dave Rolls was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the first, his fifth of the season.

After falling behind, 2-1, in the second game, USD (1-5, 14-10-2) scored five runs in the fourth inning. Dave Jacas was 3 for 4 with a RBI and a run scored. Jacas was 4 for 5 with three runs scored and three walks in the two games. Freshman Jim Westlund (4-0) scattered four hits in 7 innings for the win.

In nonconference action:

Pacific 4-7, USIU 0-2--Joe Ortiz paced the Tigers in both games. In the first game, he had two RBIs and two sixth-inning stolen bases. Starter Randy Ralstin (2-2) pitched the first three innings to earn the win.

In the second game, Ortiz’s leadoff double in the first inning shook up Gull starter Carl Grovom, who walked four in the inning. UOP’s Doug Nelson (5-3) went the distance for the win.

UOP evened its record to 12-12. USIU fell to 7-22.