May 10, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Ty France's solo home run in the top of the fifth gave San Diego State its first lead of the night as it fought back from a 3-0 deficit to defeat UNLV, 7-3, Saturday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory the Aztecs improved to 34-17 overall and 14-12 in the Mountain West.
UNLV (30-19, 17-9 MW) took the early lead in the contest as it scored three runs against SDSU starter Mark Seyler in the top of the second with five singles, including four in a row with one out. Seyler, however, would settle down after that frame and not surrender a hit over the ensuing four-plus innings.
San Diego State came back with three runs of its own in the third off Rebel starter Bryan Bonnell. A single, hit batter and walk loaded the bases with no outs before Tim Zier grounded out to first to bring home the first run. Ty France then hit a single that glanced off the shortstop's glove to bring home two more and the contest was tied at 3-3.
Two innings later France stroked a ball over the wall in left center field to give SDSU a lead it would not relinquish. He finished the night with two hits, three RBI and a run scored.
Seyler pitched into the seventh inning, but when he surrendered a one-out walk he was lifted in favor of closer Michael Cederoth, who got back-to-back infielder ground outs to end the frame.
San Diego State rallied for three insurance runs in its half of the eighth. Seby Zavala led off with a double and went to third on Steven Pallares' single. After Pallares stole second, Ryan Muno lined a pitch down the left field line to bring home both runners. Muno would later score on an RBI single by Danny Sheehan to give the home side a 7-3 advantage.
Cederoth allowed a two-out walk in the top of the ninth, but struck out to of the final three batters he faced to notch his 18th save of the year. Seyler would be credited with the victory to improve to 8-4 while UNLV's Bonnell took the loss to even his season ledger at 5-5.
Tyler Adkison had three hits and scored a run while Muno (two RBI, run scored) and France finished with two hits apiece.
San Diego State and UNLV will play the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday (May 11) at 1:00 p.m. The contest will be the Aztecs' final home game of the 2014 season and has been designated as Senior Day with five Aztecs being honored during a pregame ceremony.