SAN DIEGO – In a game that lasted six hours and 14 minutes, San Diego State dropped a heart-breaking 8-5 decision on Monday to Hawaii in 15 innings at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 3-5 on the young season, while the Rainbow Warriors even their record at 4-4.
Both teams squandered numerous scoring chances, combining for 32 runners left on base, including 17 for SDSU and 15 for the visitors.
However, Hawai'i ultimately broke a lengthy 5-5 deadlock with three runs in the top of the 15th to account for the winning margin.
In the decisive frame, Aaron Ujimori and Kyson Donahue each drew a base on balls from Omar Serrano, SDSU's sixth pitcher of the night, while Trevor Ichimura was hit by a pitch. Avery Jones took the mound at this juncture and promptly induced a tailor-made 1-2-3 double play from Matt Aribal, but Scotty Scott soon followed with a single deep in the hole at shortstop, driving in Donahue to put the Warriors in front to stay.
Shortly thereafter, Cole Cabrera walked, while Matt Wong beat out another infield hit on the left side to drive in Ichimura. Hawai'i subsequently closed out the scoring when Scott crossed the plate after Jacob Igawa was hit by a pitch.
In SDSU's final at-bat, Cole Carrigg led off with a single in the bottom of the inning; however, Ichimura, who was inserted as a pitcher in the 10th, induced a 6-3 double-play grounder before recording a strikeout to abruptly end the game.
Ichimura (1-0) earned the victory, scattering three hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings to go with four strikeouts. The Warriors' right-hander also fought himself off the proverbial ropes, emerging unscathed from a bases-loaded jam in the 11th before stranding two additional Aztec runners in the 14th.
Conversely, Serrano (0-1) absorbed the loss after yielding the first two go-ahead runs in the 15th.
Trailing 5-0 without a hit entering the seventh, SDSU quickly loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Tino Bethancourt and Tyler Glowacki, while Johnny Giannola also got aboard after beating out bunt to third base. Moments later, Kenny LeBeau plated Bethancourt and Glowacki with a sharp single up the middle, while Giannola touched home on Carrigg's groundout to first.
The Aztecs eventually tied the score in the eighth when Giannola doubled home Bethancourt, who led off with a walk, while Glowacki singled and advanced to third before racing home on Alex Rodriguez's squeeze bunt.
However, SDSU was unable to seize the upper hand following Rodriguez's steal of second base with no outs. Hawaii reliever Tai Atkins struck out two batters to extinguish the threat after getting a groundout on a bunt by LeBeau.
Brian Leonhardt started for the Aztecs and gave up three runs on three hits and two walks but posted a career-high eight strikeouts. In addition, SDSU received a strong performance from Jadon Bercovich, who fanned a collegiate-best seven hitters while allowing just one hit in six innings of work.
The teams combined to use 16 pitchers on the night, including nine for the Warriors and seven for the Aztecs.
The 15-inning contest was SDSU's longest since April 19, 2013, when the Scarlet and Black dropped a 9-8 decision at UNLV in 17 innings, which tied a school record for longest game.
The Aztecs will have little time to dwell on their defeat, as UC Irvine pays a visit to Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday for another non-conference showdown, starting at 6 p.m. PT. SDSU will be looking to avenge a 13-3 loss to the Anteaters on Feb. 22 in Irvine, California.
Aztecs Fall to Hawai'i in 15 Innings
