March 3, 2017
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State opened its three-game weekend series against Cal Poly with a 5-0 victory over the Mustangs behind the pitching of Brett Seeburger, Jacob Erickson and Adrian Mardueno.
The win was the third straight for SDSU, which improved to 6-4 on the season. Cal Poly, meanwhile, saw its record fall to 2-7.
The Aztecs took the early lead with a run in the opening frame. Consecutive two-out singles by Danny Sheehan, Jordan Verdon and Andrew Martinez made it 1-0 in favor of the home side. It marked the 10th time in 10 games this season that either SDSU or its opponent has scored in the first inning.
San Diego State tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fourth. A single by Chase Calabuig was followed by Dean Nevarez being hit by pitch. A fielder's choice off the bat of Julian Escobedo put runners at first and third with two out before Alan Trejo's single to right brought Calabuig home.
An errant pickoff attempt at second sent Escobedo to third and Trejo stole second to put men at second and third. Andrew Brown then hit a high chopper toward second that the Mustangs' second could not corral and both runners scored to make it a 4-0 game.
SDSU's final run came in the seventh when it loaded the bases with two out and David Hensley beat out a slow roller to third for an infield single to bring home the Aztecs' final marker.
On the pitching side, senior lefty Brett Seeburger (2-0) made the start and tossed 6.2 innings to pick up his second win of the year. He departed after Cal Poly loaded the bases in the seventh with two out on a pair of singles and a walk, giving way to fellow left Jacob Erickson who struck out the ensuing batter to end the threat.
Erickson tossed a scoreless eighth inning before Adrian Mardueno was called upon to close out the contest. The freshman had two men on base via an error and hit batter to open the final frame, but then struck out the next three Mustang hitters to end the game.
Trejo (RBI, run scored) and Verdon ended the night with two hits apiece for the Aztecs while Brown accounted for a pair of RBI.
San Diego State and Cal Poly will continue their weekend series on Saturday (March 3) with a game scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.