May 6, 2016
FRESNO, Calif. - Looking to make a move up the standings in the final stages of the regular season, San Diego State got its three-game series at Fresno State off to a good start with a 4-2 win over the Bulldogs Friday evening at Beiden Field.
The Aztecs (14-30; 6-14 Mountain West) got on the board first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Tyler Adkison led off with a single before Spencer Thornton reached first on a throwing error by FSU first baseman Aaron Arruda that put runners at second and third. Adkison would score on a ground out by Andrew Brown with Thornton coming home on an RBI single by Jordan Verdon.
That 2-0 lead would not last long, however, as Fresno State (30-17; 17-8 MW) answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the same inning. Two singles, a double, a hit batter and a balk against SDSU starter Dominic Purpura tied the contest.
After surrendering the two runs, Purpura was stellar over the next six frames as he shut out the home team on three hits and a walk. The junior left-hander would complete eight full innings allowing the two runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. He would be credited with the win to even his season record at 2-2.
San Diego State would break the 2-2 deadlock with a run in the top of the sixth. Thornton doubled down the left field line with one out, and after a pop out and hit batter, would score on a single up the middle by Dean Nevarez.
Aztec center fielder Denz'l Chapman, making just his third start of the season, played a big part for the Aztecs in both the bottom of the eighth and top of the ninth.
Looking to even the score in the eighth, the Bulldogs began the inning with a single by Zach Ashford, who went to second on a ground out to shortstop. Jake Stone then singled up the middle, but when Ashford tried to score the tying run he was gunned down at the plate from center field by Chapman to preserve SDSU's 3-2 lead.
In the top of the ninth, Chapman led off with a single and promptly stole second base. He advanced to third on a grounder to first by Chase Calabuig and scored on Adkison's single through the left side to make it a 4-2 contest.
The Aztecs then brought on Jacob Erickson to close out the contest and the junior reliever retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth on two strikeouts and a fly ball to record his season save of the season.
Adkison led the SDSU offense on the night with three hits including a double, RBI and run scored. Chapman was the other Aztec to finish with more that one hit as he recorded a pair of singles, stolen base and run scored.
San Diego state and Fresno State will continue their weekend series on Saturday, May 7, with a contest scheduled to get underway at 6:05 p.m.