NCAA Tournament: San Diego State stays alive with extra innings win over UCLA; has rematch with Long Beach State

In an elimination game with UCLA, the San Diego State baseball team beat the Bruins in 13 innings, 3-2. The game lacked for offense (14 total hits) but not for drama as extra inning games when the loser goes home never do. P

itching, especially the pen, game up nails as their excellent closer, CJ Saylor got the win. Closers usually go an inning or less but not this time. CJ went 4 2/3 inning in posting the victory (3-0) with four strikeouts.

Saylor came in to pitch with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied. This is especially bad because even an out can score the winning run and end the season. He got the two outs without letting the ball out of the infield so coach may have said you're our best, finish it out.

Overall, the pitching made the game interesting (wrong word?) for the Aztecs as they issued eight walks along with the eight hits. Another oddity is that there was only one extra base hit in the game; a double by the Bruins' Michael Toglia. That means a compounded oddity, at least to me.

I believe in the two games in which the Aztecs have been involved (take that English teachers), only one extra base hit. You like pitching? The Aztecs are doing it.

The Aztecs will now face Long Beach State in another elimination game as the Dirtbags were beaten yesterday 5-3 by Texas. The Longhorns await the winner.

Here are the highlights and post game interviews after Saturday’s win over San Diego State.