March 4, 2016
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Brody Russell's solo home run in the top of the 10th inning completed a Fresno State comeback that saw the visitors defeat San Diego State, 3-2, Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory the Bulldogs remained perfect at 10-0 while the Aztecs' record dropped to 1-9 in what was the conference opener for both squads.
SDSU got solid pitching on the night from freshman starter Dominic Purpura and Cody Thompson in relief, but it was an inability to come up with the clutch hit that cost the Aztecs. The home side left a man on third on four occasions including the sixth and seventh innings when it had a runner ninety feet from home with one out, but couldn't push across the run.
After Fresno State opened with an unearned run in the top of the first, San Diego State answered right back with one of its own in the bottom of the inning. That run came when Chase Calabuig walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher, and scored on Justin Wylie's RBI single to left.
The Aztecs took the lead two innings later on a two-out run-scoring single by Spencer Thornton that brought home CJ Saylor, who had singled to open the frame.
That 2-1 lead stood up until the top of the sixth when Torin Goldstein's slowly hit grounder trickled through the infield to bring home the tying run.
Bulldog senior left-hander Dylan Lee retired the Aztec in order in both the eighth and ninth innings before Russell lofted a fly ball just over the fence in left center field for the game-winning run.
Lee (1-0) would be credited with the win while Thompson (0-3), who gave up Russell's long ball, was saddled with the loss. Bulldog closer Tim Borst tossed the bottom of the 10th to record his sixth save of the season.
Alan Trejo and Tyler Adkison and along with Wylie ended the night with two hits apiece. Trejo's double in the seventh inning was the lone extra-base knock among the Aztecs' 11 hits.
Fresno State and San Diego State will continue their weekend series with a contest on Saturday (March 5) scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.