Aztecs Drop Second Game of MW Series at UNLV
San Diego State was unable to contain a potent UNLV offense on Saturday after dropping a 13-2 decision in seven innings in the second game of a Mountain West series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
LAS VEGAS – San Diego State was unable to contain a potent UNLV offense on Saturday after dropping a 13-2 decision in seven innings in the second game of a Mountain West series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Rebels (22-20, 8-12 MW) scored at least two runs in each of the first five innings, finishing with 19 hits to help secure the series win against the Aztecs (15-29, 10-10 MW), who were limited to five hits for the night and two over the final five frames.
In addition, UNLV batted .600 (9-15) with two outs, driving in seven of its 13 runs in that situation to complete the run-rule victory.
SDSU opened the scoring in the first when Finley Bates led off with a base hit and advanced to second on a groundout before racing home on Nevan Noonan’s RBI single to left.
The Rebels responded with two markers on four hits in their initial trip to the plate, highlighted by Elijah Rodriguez’s run-scoring double and Brendan O’Sullivan’s RBI single.
In perhaps an ominous sign, the Aztecs loaded the bases in the top of the second on consecutive walks to Zane Kelly, Evan Sipe and Eli Selga but could only manage one run. Following a strikeout, Jonathan Smith knocked in Kelly with a single to right, but Sipe was thrown out at the plate before UNLV starter Reese Lueck induced a flyout to Noonan to prevent further damage.
With the score knotted a 2-2, the Rebels plated two runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair of RBI singles by JP Hefft and Cole Koniarsky with two outs to vault in front for good.
UNLV put up a four-spot in the third, featuring a three-run double by Dean Toigo, before scoring three additional markers in the fourth to essentially put the contest out of reach at 11-2.
Five starters finished with multiple hits for the Rebels, including Toigo, who went 4-for-5 with a game-high five RBIs, while Rodriguez (2 RBIs) and Cooper Sheff collected three apiece, followed by Koniarsky and Chase Gallegos (2 RBIs) with two each.
Despite giving up four hits and six walks in five innings, Lueck (3-2) earned the victory after limiting SDSU to just two runs, while Omar Serrano (3.2 IP, 11 R) absorbed the loss.
Noonan led the Aztecs with two hits for the evening, while Jake Jackson ripped a double with two outs in the third inning but was left stranded.
UP NEXT
San Diego State will look to salvage the final game of its weekend series at UNLV on Sunday, April 27, beginning at 12:05 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Rebels contest will be broadcast live on the Mountain West Network.