March 22, 2014
Las Vegas, Nev. - San Diego State saw a seven-game winning streak come to an end as it dropped a close 5-4 decision to UNLV in the opening contest of their three-game weekend series against the Rebels in Las Vegas. With the loss the Aztecs saw their record fall to 16-5 overall and 4-3 in the Mountain West.
Things started well for SDSU as it scored a run in each of the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the first, Seby Zavala's single drove home Greg Allen, who had singled, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Rebel catcher. In the second it was Brad Haynal's double down the left field line that brought home Spencer Thornton from first after the latter had singled to open the frame.
UNLV (15-6, 8-2 MW) would tie the contest at 2-2 thanks to a solo home run by Matt McCallister in the third and T.J. White's RBI triple in the fifth.
The Rebels would then take the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth with two of those charged to SDSU starter Mike Robards. The junior left-hander would end his evening after 5.1 innings having surrendered four runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts. He would eventually be charged with the loss as his record dropped to 2-3.
Trailing 5-2, San Diego State made a game of it with two runs in the seventh. After Thornton drew a one-out walk, Tyler Adkison tripled to right center to bring him home. Adkison in turn scored on an infield single by Haynal to draw the Aztecs to within one at 5-4.
But that's as close as they would get as Rebel starter Erick Fedde tossed a complete-game for the win as he improved to 4-1 on the year. Over his nine innings of work he allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits with two walks and turned in a career-high 12 strikeouts.
Haynal was the lone Aztec to collect more than one hit on the night as he recorded a single and double while driving in a pair of runs.
San Diego State and UNLV will play the second game of their series on Saturday, Mar. 22, beginning at 1:05 p.m. at Earle E Wilson Stadium.