April 14, 2018
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State baseball team overcame two different multiple-run deficits in its Saturday night contest against Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night but fell victim to a four-run top of the ninth to fall against the Titans, 13-9. The Aztecs fall to 22-13 on the year, while the Titans jump above .500 at 17-16.
After the Titans opened the game with a three-run top of the first, SDSU showed its ability to fight back with a four-run bottom half, including a one-out two-run home run by Jordan Verdon that cleared the wall in right field. Later in the inning, Chad Bible drove home Dean Nevarez on a single through the middle of the infield and Casey Schmitt singled home Julian Escobedo erase CSF's 3-0 advantage and give the Aztecs an early 4-3 lead.
The lead for SDSU was shortlived as the Titans responded with a three-run second and a single run in the fourth and sixth to build its lead to 8-5 after six innings.
A two-out error allowed CSF to extend its lead to 9-5 in the top of the eighth. The Aztecs were up for the late-inning task of closing the Titan lead, tying the game at 9-9 in the bottom of the eighth in thanks to an RBI double by Chase Calabuig, a two-out RBI single by Chad Bible after an 11-pitch at bat, and a pair of Titan errors allowed four runs to cross the plate in a four-run, two-hit inning.
CSF responded with its own four-spot in the ninth after each of the first six batters in the inning reached base to take a 13-9 lead.
SDSU had a pair of three-hit showings including David Hensley and Chad Bible who went 3-for-5 and 3-for-4, respectively. Three different Aztecs recorded a two RBIs, including Calabuig, Verdon, and Bible.
Adrian Mardueno fell to 4-1 on the season after allowing CSF's first three batters in the top of the ninth to reach base.
NOTES
- David Hensley extended his on-base streak to 28 games. Chase Calabuig extended his on-base streak in home games to 38.
- David Hensley extended his on-base streak to 28 games. Chase Calabuig extended his on-base streak in home games to 38.
- Today's game duration of 4:18 is the longest for a nine-inning game since losing to USC 12-11 in the 2015 NCAA Regional in Lake Elsinore. That game ended SDSU's 2015 campaign and lasted 4:25.
- San Diego State falls to 4-4 against teams which participated in the College World Series the year prior since Mark Martinez took over as head coach before the 2015 season.
- SDSU falls to 22-8 against Big West teams since the start of the 2017 season.
UP NEXT
Tomorrow's rubber game is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Aztecs will send RHP Justin Goossen-Brown up (1-1, 3.81 ERA) against CSF's RHP Andrew Quezada (1-3, 4.07 ERA).