March 21, 2017
For the second straight game, San Diego State put together a big inning to break open a close game as it went on to defeat Long Beach State, 12-5, Tuesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The win was the 11th in the last 14 outings for the Aztecs, who improved to 14-7 on the year. The Dirtbags, meanwhile, saw the end of a four-game win streak as it saw its record drop to 10-9.
Long Beach State actually got on the board first with a run in the top of the second against SDSU starting pitcher Ray Lambert. A hit batter and back-to-back singles gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.
That advantage didn't last long, however, as the Aztecs countered with three runs in their half of the third. With Andrew Brown and Jordan Verdon aboard on a hit batter and walk, Tyler Adkison laced a two-RBI triple down the right field line to give the home side a 2-1 lead. Adkison would score when an infield pop-up was misplayed for an error to make it 3-1.
Adkison, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week, had another big night, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances. In addition to the triple, the junior left fielder had a pair of singles and two walks, scoring four times and driving in a total of three runs.
Long Beach State would tie the contest in the next innings, scoring a pair of runs on a two-out triple by catcher David Banuelos. The bases-clearing hit came against SDSU reliever Harrison Pyatt, who had just come on after Lambert had hit a batter and walked a man with two outs.
The 3-3 was short-lived as San Diego State struck for six runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits, a walk, hit batter and two Dirtbag errors. RBI the frame came on singles by Alan Trejo, Andrew Martinez and Adkison plus sacrifice flies by Verdon and Hunter Stratton. The other run scored on a wild pitch.
Pyatt (1-0) would be the beneficiary of SDSU's six-run outburst as he would be credited with the win, his first of the season. The sophomore right-hander would toss one full inning, allowing one hit. The Aztecs would go on to utilize the services of six other relief pitchers over the final four-plus innings.
After the Dirtbags scored a run in the top of the sixth to make it 9-4, Martinez would connect for a two-run home in the bottom of the same inning, his third of the season.
SDSU got its final run in the bottom of the eighth when pinch hitter Chad Bible doubled down the right field line to drive home Adkison, who had walked to open the frame.
In addition to Adkison, Martinez also had a multiple-hit evening with a single, home run and three RBI. Seven other players had one hit each with a triple by Chase Calabuig and the double by Bible.
The Aztecs will now prepare for this weekend's three-game series at Fresno State. That set gets underway on Friday, March 24, at 6:05 p.m. at the Bulldogs' Pete Beiden Field. SDSU and FSU enter the weekend tied for second place in the conference standings with identical 4-2 league records.