April 13, 2017
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - In a game marred by winds gusting to center field, San Diego State dropped the opener of its three-game series at UNLV, 7-3, Thursday night at Earl E. Wilson Stadium in Las Vegas. The Aztecs used a pair of homers to score all of their runs, but the Rebels had three of their own that helped them capture the victory.
UNLV took the lead in the second inning as it used three singles and a sacrifice fly to open up a two-run advantage. Those runs came against Aztec starter Jorge Fernandez and were the first markers he allowed this season after 15.1 innings pitched.
San Diego State responded in the top of the third on a single by David Hensley and home run to center field by Alan Trejo to tie the contest at 2-2.
That deadlock did not last long, however, as the Rebels took the lead for good in the bottom of the same frame on back-to-back home runs by Kyle Isbel and Payton Squier. Those runs also came against Fernandez, who departed after 2.1 innings having surrendered the four runs on five hits while striking out two. He was lifted in favor of senior right-hander Cody Thompson.
After sailing through the fourth inning, Thompson ran into trouble in the fifth when UNLV added three runs to its total to go up 7-2. Those markers came on a two-run homer by Isbel, his second of the night, followed by a walk, hit batter, wild pitch and ground out for the third run of the frame.
UNLV starting pitcher Alan Strong went five innings to pick up the victory after he allowed a pair of runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Larry Quaney went the final four frames to pick up his first save of the season.
The Aztecs got a consolation run in the seventh inning when catcher Hunter Stratton connected for a solo home run to right field, his first of the season.
Stratton, Trejo and Tyler Adkison all ended the night with two hits apiece to account for six of their team's nine hits on the night.
San Diego State and UNLV will continue their three-game series on Friday (April 14) when they face off in a game scheduled to get underway at 6:05 p.m. PT in Las Vegas.