San Diego State Finally Puts Long Beach Away, 8-4

San Diego State held off a late rally and defeated Cal State Long Beach, 8-4, in a college baseball game Wednesday at Smith Field.

The Aztecs led, 5-0, after three innings, but Long Beach scored once in the fourth and then pulled within a run, 5-4, with a three-run rally in the eighth.

But SDSU added three runs in the bottom of the eighth to put the game away.

Shortstop Steve Montejano hit his first home run of the season for San Diego State. Catcher Jeff Champ hit two triples, scored twice and drove in a run.

Erik Plantenberg struck out six in seven innings to pick up his first victory of the season for SDSU (9-6-1). Long Beach State is 3-13.

Mark Trafton hit a home run and went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the University of San Diego past Penn State, 7-4, at USD.

The Toreros (8-9) play at Chapman College Saturday and return home Tuesday against Cal State Dominguez Hills.

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

Hilltop High School will be the site of Friday’s San Diego Section 3-A girls’ soccer championship, the section office announced.

The match, between Bonita Vista and Torrey Pines, is to begin at 5:30 p.m.

The 3-A boys’ championship will be Friday at Torrey Pines High. The match, between Torrey Pines and Valhalla, is to start at 8 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

California Baptist College came from behind to defeat Point Loma Nazarene College, 67-54, in the semifinals of the NAIA District 3 playoffs at Riverside.

Sonja Akkerman scored 23 points as Cal Baptist, No. 9 in the country, rallied from a 29-26 halftime deficit.

Shannon Anderson scored 20 points for Point Loma Nazarene, which finished its best season in history at 22-11.

Cal Baptist (29-4) will play Fresno Pacific in the District 3 final Friday.

VOLLEYBALL

Bill Boullianne had 10 kills for San Diego State in a 15-2, 15-7, 15-4 victory over Chapman College at Peterson Gym.

SDSU, 7-9 and rated 10th nationally, plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday at UC San Diego.