March 19, 2017
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State put together a seven-run sixth inning to break open a close contest and went on to defeat UNLV, 13-5, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win, the Aztecs captured the weekend series against the Rebels (two games to one) and improved to 13-7 (4-2 Mountain West) on the season.
SDSU took a 5-1 lead after three innings, scoring three times in the second and twice in the third. Those markers came after UNLV (10-11, 5-4 MW) scored in the top of the first against Aztec starter Cody Thompson.
The Aztecs' three runs in the second frame came on a sacrifice fly by David Hensley and a two-run homer by catcher Dean Nevarez, his first of the year. In the third, it was another two-run home run, this time by Tyler Adison, that gave the home side a 5-1 lead.
The Rebels, however, closed to within two runs by scoring twice in their half of the fourth inning courtesy of a two-out two-run double by Cody Howard that made it a 5-3 contest.
Thompson (1-0) would work through the fifth inning on the mound and be credited for the win, his first of the year. Over his five innings of work, the senior right-hander allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Aztecs would use four different relievers for an inning apiece to close out the game.
San Diego State's rally in the bottom of the sixth was keyed by a three-run homer by Nevarez, his second four-bagger of the day that made it 8-3. Further RBI in the frame came on singles by Andrew Brown and Jordan Verdon plus a two-run double by Adkison.
The Rebels scored consolation runs in the seventh and eighth before SDSU added one more of its own in the bottom of the eighth. That run came on a leadoff double by Danny Sheehan and a one-out double by Adkison to drive him home.
Adkison ended the afternoon a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with walk, two singles, a double and home run along with five RBI. Nevarez also produced five RBI with his two home runs and scored twice. Brown also had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored as the Aztecs struck for 16 hits in the game.
San Diego State will wrap up its current four-game home stand with a contest against Long Beach State on Tuesday, March 21, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.