Spirited Rally Propels Aztecs Past Nevada in Series Opener, 7-4

RENO, Nev. – San Diego State staged a valiant ninth-inning rally on Friday, scoring four runs with two outs to defeat Nevada 7-4 in the opener of a Mountain West series at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.

With the victory, the Aztecs (16-35, 11-14 MW) snap an eight-game slide and maintain a share of fifth place in the conference standings with Air Force and San José State, as the top six teams qualify for the MW Championship in Mesa, Arizona later this month.

Despite the setback, the Wolf Pack (29-20, 15-10 MW) remain tied for first place after co-leaders Fresno State and New Mexico both lost as well on Friday night.

The top four batters in SDSU’s lineup—Finley Bates (2 H, 1 R), Jonathan Smith (2 H, 1 R, 1 RBI), Nevan Noonan (2 H, 2 R, 2 RBI) and CJ Moran (1 H, 2 R, 2 RBI)—combined for seven hits, five RBIs and six runs scored to pace the Scarlet and Black offense, while starting pitcher Xavier Cardenas III set a career high with 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Down to their last out, the Aztecs commenced their frantic comeback in the ninth when Bates ripped a double to left on the first offering from Logan Saloman and promptly scored on Smith’s two-bagger high off the right-field fence, which knotted the score at 4-4.

After Noonan was intentionally walked, Moran greeted new reliever Ethan O’Neal with a triple down the right-field line on a 2-2 pitch, plating Smith and Noonan with the go-ahead runs.  Moments later, Moran crossed the plate on a wild pitch to give the Scarlet and Black a 7-4 advantage.

Despite allowing a one-out single to Mason Hirata in the bottom of the inning, Aztec reliever Aidan Russell received a flyout from Jake Harvey before inducing an infield pop-up to Michael Ball to secure the victory.

Russell pitched 2 1/3 scoreless frames after taking over for Cardenas with two outs in the seventh. The junior right-hander offset two hits with a trio of strikeouts to raise his record to 2-1 on the year.

Meanwhile, Cardenas gave up four runs (two earned) on six hits and a pair of walks in his first start since March 1 at Saint Mary’s.

SDSU opened the scoring in the second when Moran drew a leadoff walk and ultimately scored on Zane Kelly’s RBI groundout.

The Aztecs increased their advantage to 3-0 in the fifth when Noonan smacked his team-leading seventh home run of the season with two outs, knocking in Evan Escobar, who led off with an infield single.

However, Nevada answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame on RBI singles from Jackson Waller and Harvey. Previously, Billy Ham drew a leadoff walk, while Taylor Holder reached on a dropped fly ball in center field.

The Wolf Pack knotted the score in the sixth on Sean Yamaguchi’s leadoff homer before inching in front 4-3 in the seventh on Harvey’s two-out RBI single up the middle, which brought home Jacob Doyle, who was previously hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced on Waller’s groundout.

Russell gave up a two-out single to Ham in the eighth, while pinch runner Antonio Avila stole second. However, the SDSU reliever flashed his resiliency with consecutive strikeouts of Holder and Doyle to prevent the host school from extending its lead.

Nevada starter Peyton Fosher pitched six innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts before yielding to Saloman to start the seventh.

Saloman (2.2 IP), who was charged with three of SDSU’s four runs in the ninth, absorbed the defeat, slipping to 2-1 on the year.

Harvey and Waller led the Wolf Pack with two hits apiece in the loss.

UP NEXT
San Diego State continues its series against Nevada on Saturday, May 10, starting at 2:05 p.m. PT. The Aztecs are expected to start right-hander Omar Serrano (4-6), while the Wolf Pack are projected to counter with lefty Alessandro Castro (4-3).