March 27, 2015
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - San Diego State scored a pair of two-out runs in the top of the ninth to break a 5-5 deadlock and went on to record a 7-5 victory at UNLV Friday evening. With the win the Aztecs improved to 20-6 overall and 8-2 in the Mountain West. The victory, coupled with Nevada's loss at San Jose State, allowed SDSU to take sole possession of first place in the conference standings.
After both teams scored a run in the opening frame, the Aztecs put four on the board in the second to take a 5-1 lead. Shortstop Danny Sheehan capped off the inning with a three-run homer off the scoreboard beyond the left field fence, his first career home run as an Aztec.
Over the next six innings SDSU was unable to add to its total as a trio of Rebel hurlers kept the Aztecs off the board. UNLV (12-12, 2-8 MW), meanwhile, chipped away at SDSU's lead, eventually tying it up at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth.
San Diego State starter Bubba Derby would depart the contest after tossing six innings, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. He left with a 5-4 lead, but would not be involved in the decision as UNLV tied it in with a run in the eighth off reliever Brian Heldman.
Closer CJ Saylor came out to get the final out of that inning with a runner at third to keep the score tied.
In the top of the ninth, Seby Zavala drew a walk with two outs and scored from first on Andrew Brown's double to left center. Ryan Muno then stroked an RBI double off the right field wall to score Brown with SDSU's seventh run of the game.
Saylor would hold the Rebels scoreless in the bottom of the inning after allowing a two-out walk as he picked up his first win of the year to even his record at 1-1.
Sheehan ended the night with three hits, three RBI and a run scored while Brown (two RBI, run scored), Muno (RBI) and Ty France (run scored) had two hits apiece.
San Diego State and UNLV will continue their weekend set of games with a contest on Saturday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas.