May 15, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State scored all of its runs over the first four innings en route to a 9-2 victory over Fresno State Thursday evening at Beiden Field in Fresno. With the win the Aztecs improved to 36-17 overall and 16-12 in the Mountain West as they took sole possession of third place in the league standings with Nevada's loss at UNLV.
SDSU jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against Fresno State starter Jordan Brink with Brad Haynal (sacrifice fly) and Seby Zavala (double) driving in runs in the opening frame.
In the second, a one-out triple by Greg Allen, his team-leading third of the season, was cashed in on an RBI single by Tim Zier to make it 3-0.
In the next frame the Aztecs added two more to their total with one swing of the bat as Steven Pallares hit his first home run of the year after Zavala had singled. That long ball ended the night for Brink who would depart after three innings having surrendered the five runs on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout. The junior right-hander would see his record drop to 4-3 on the season.
Bulldog reliever Dillon Houser fared little better as SDSU got to him for four runs in the top of the fourth. Those markers came as the result of three hits, a hit batter, a walk and wild pitch. Ryan Muno had a two-RBI single in the inning while Tyler Adkison drove in the final run of the frame with a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 9-0 contest.
San Diego State starting pitcher Bubba Derby allowed only three hits over his 5.1 innings of work and struck out seven, but also issued seven bases on balls. Fresno State got to him for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on two hits and two walks, but that would be the end of the scoring in the contest. Derby would be credited with the win to up his season record to 7-3.
Redshirt freshman Cody Thompson came on in relief in the bottom of the sixth and pitched the final 3.2 innings allowing just two base runners (walk, error). He registered a pair of strikeouts as he notched his first save of the 2014 campaign.
Four Aztecs ended the evening with two hits including Tim Zier (double, RBI, run scored), Ty France (two runs scored), Seby Zavala (double, RBI, two runs scored) and Steve Pallares (home run, two RBI, two runs scored).
With New Mexico defeating Air Force earlier this evening, the Aztec can now finish no higher than second in the final Mountain West standings. That can only happen with two more wins in Fresno and a pair of UNLV losses at home to Nevada. SDSU now has a one-game lead over Nevada for third place as the teams try to solidify their seeding for next week's conference tournament.
San Diego State and Fresno state will continues their three-game series with a contest on Friday (May 16) scheduled to get underway at 6:35 p.m. at Beiden field.