Aztecs Win 2, Take Second in WAC

In its final at-bat in the Western Athletic Conference season, San Diego State scored four runs in the sixth inning to defeat Hawaii, 5-1, in the second game of a doubleheader Monday at Smith Field. The Aztecs won the first game, 12-1.

The victories leave SDSU (35-23, 17-9) in second place in the WAC. Hawaii (36-24, 18-10), ranked 25th in the nation, finishes third, just ahead of Wyoming (36-19, 17-10), ranked 17th. Brigham Young (43-14, 21-7) finished first.

SDSU plays Hawaii Thursday in Honolulu in the opening game of the WAC playoffs. BYU takes on Wyoming in the double-elimination tournament.

SDSU’s Kasey McKeon had the big blow in the nightcap, a two-run double off the left-field wall in the sixth. Jim Gibbs (2-2) was the winner.

In the first game, the Aztecs collected 16 hits and scored seven runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Rainbows. John Hemmerly (6-3), a graduate of Mission Bay High, struck out eight and allowed just four hits. Second baseman Brian Dunn went two for four with four RBIs and designated hitter Mike McKinnon three for three with two runs scored.

UC San Diego will play Cal State Stanislaus in a best-of-five baseball series in Turlock in the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division III West Regional Friday through Sunday. The Tritons, ranked No. 6 in Division III, are 23-16. No. 10 Stanislaus is 20-17.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

The University of San Diego’s Jennifer Larking, ranked 30th in the nation, lost to Shannan McCarthy of Georgia in three sets in the first round of the NCAA individual championship tournament in Gainesville, Fla.

Larking, who defeated No. 2-ranked Stacy Martin of Tennessee last week in the NCAA team tournament, was defeated by McCarthy, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.

In doubles, the team of Larking and Aby Brayton lost, 2-6, 4-6, to Kelly Mulvehill and Stephanie Reese of Indiana.

MEN’S TENNIS

The University of San Diego has been accepted into the NCAA team tournament for the first time as a Division I school.

USD freshman Jose Luis Noriega (15-2 and ranked 24th in the nation) has been selected to participate in the individual tournament, which will begin after the team tournament.

The team tournament will take place at the University of Georgia in Athens beginning Friday. The Toreros (24-6, 24th in the nation), will face Big 10 champion Minnesota in the opening round.

Although this marks the first invitation received by the Toreros as a Division I school, they did make it to the NCAA tournament at the Division II level in 1974 and 1975.

UC San Diego lost to Kalamazoo, 5-1, in the first round of the NCAA Division III team tournament in Kalamazoo, Mich. The Tritons, who can finish no better than fifth, got their lone victory in No. 1 singles.

UCSD’s Sig Huber defeated Dave Borski, 6-4, 6-4. UCSD (14-11) plays the University of the South in the consolation bracket today.