San Diego State, Utah Split Doubleheader

San Diego State split a controversial doubleheader to open a four-game Western Athletic Conference baseball series Tuesday at the University of Utah. The Aztecs won the first game, 7-6, but Utah took the nightcap, 7-5.

The second game was played under protest as SDSU Coach Jim Deitz claimed a Ute made an illegal slide to break up a potential double play in the second inning. Utah went on to score two runs in that inning to take a 5-1 lead.

The Aztecs scratched back with a run in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but Utah’s two in the bottom of the fourth sealed the victory.

“(The slide) was clearly a violation,” Dietz said. “It did alter the course of the play.”

SDSU has 24 hours to file reports with the league office.

Bill Dunckel had two hits, including a home run, and two RBIs in the first game. He went three for four with one RBI in the second.

SDSU, second in the WAC behind Hawaii, is 27-9, 8-2.

University of San Diego suffered its fifth consecutive defeat by losing to Cal State Fullerton, 17-0, at USD. Jason Moler went two for four with a triple and five RBIs and Frank Herman went four for five with two doubles and four runs scored for Cal State Fullerton (21-15). USD, which has lost 12 of its last 14 games, fell to 13-22-2.

Point Loma Nazarene lost to Cal State San Bernardino, 4-1, at PLNC. Mark Ratekin went three for four for PLNC (14-21). Darrell Baker had two hits and three RBIs for CSSB (15-7).

MEN’S TENNIS

USD defeated visiting San Jose State 6-3. Jose Luis Noriega defeated Brian Eagle, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 1 for USD (11-12). Also for USD, J.J. Shobar defeated Dana Gill, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 4 and at No. 5, Matt Foote defeated Mike Askvig, 6-3, 6-4. San Jose State is now 10-7.

SOFTBALL

Cal State Dominguez Hills improved to 25-9-1 by taking a doubleheader from UC San Diego, 3-2, 4-1. For UCSD (13-12), Dana Chaiken went three for four with one RBI in the first game and Lynn Moreno went three for four overall.