Aztecs Come Up Short Against Florida, 9-7

San Diego State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth but could not score as top-ranked Florida held on for a 9-7 baseball victory at Smith Field Friday.

With the bases loaded, catcher Eric Christopherson fouled out and pinch-hitter Darin Ghimenti struck out as Florida improved to 12-1. The Aztecs, ranked No. 15, fell to 8-4. The teams play again today at 5.

Harry Henderson was three for five with two RBIs, including a two-run homer in the seventh for SDSU. Freshman Rick Navarro had a good outing for the Aztecs in relief, allowing one run in five innings and striking out five.

Herbert Perry was three for five and scored three runs for Florida. Jeff Gidcumb (4-0) went seven innings for the victory and John Hemmerly (2-2) took the loss.

Cal State Long Beach scored two runs in the first and one in the second to defeat visiting University of San Diego, 3-2, in a nonleague game at Cerritos. The game was called after 7 1/2 innings because of darkness.

First-inning RBIs by Todd Guggians and Terry Sanchez gave the 49ers a 2-1 lead. USD led, 1-0, in the first as Andy Roberts singled in Jim Alexander. The teams play again today at USD at 1. Cal State Long Beach is 13-0 and USD is 5-6.

SOFTBALL

U.S. International University was held to four hits as top-ranked UCLA defeated the Gulls, 1-0, in the Fresno State tournament.

Yvonne Gutierrez scored on a single by Shaunna Flynn in the bottom of the fourth to give UCLA (7-0) the victory. USIU, ranked No. 23, is 7-4-1 and plays second-ranked Fresno State today.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Angelica Jackson and Brooke Meadows scored 14 points as San Diego State easily defeated Monmouth College, 71-49, in the first round of the Northern Lights tournament at Alaska-Anchorage.

The 17th-ranked Aztecs play 19th-ranked Old Dominion in the semifinals today.

SDSU (22-5) led, 39-26, at the half. Chana Perry added 11 points for the Aztecs. Sue Shea led Monmouth (13-13) wit 21 points.

Guard Candida Echeverria had 17 points and eight rebounds, center Rochelle Lightner added 12 points and guard Paula Mascari 10 points to lead the University of San Diego (9-16 overall, 5-7 in conference play) to a 72-56 West Coast Athletic Conference victory over Portland (7-20, 5-8).

USD, which led, 32-26, at the half, shot 43% (26 of 60) from the floor, 50% (four of eight) from three-point range and 77% (16 of 21) from the free throw line.

Tracy Ragatz scored 17 points and Beth Konig added 15 as UC San Diego defeated Southern California College, 74-60, in a nonleague game at La Jolla. The Tritons (17-9) finished the season with a school-record 19 victories, breaking the record of 17 during the 1982-83 season. SCC (5-20), a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics school, was led by Gail Brown’s 17 points.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Mark VanDusen made a free throw with 3 seconds left as Menlo defeated UC San Diego, 73-72, in a nonconference game at UCSD.

The score was tied, 72-72, and UCSD was running down the clock for a last shot when it lost the ball out of bounds with 8 seconds to play. VanDusen was fouled on an attempted layup.

Rick Batt led UCSD (9-17) with 26 points and 14 rebounds.