FRESNO, Calif. - The San Diego State baseball team used six multiple hit-performances and a four-inning save with no earned runs allowed by Adrian Mardueno in a 10-6 win over Fresno State on Saturday night. With the series now tied, the Aztecs are now 1.5 games behind the Bulldogs in the Mountain West standings.
SDSU now stands at 31-20 (15-10 MW) on the season while the Bulldogs fall to 31-14-1 (16-8-1 MW).
The Aztecs and Bulldogs went back-and-forth during the game's first three innings, as a 2-0 lead built by the Aztecs in the top of the second was quickly erased with a two-run effort by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the second.
After Mike Jarvis put the Aztecs ahead with an RBI single in the top of the third, Fresno State once again wiped away SDSU's early lead, posting a three-run third inning to take a 5-3 lead.
The Aztecs showed eagerness despite the newly acquired deficit, as Angelo Armenta tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the fourth with his second home run of the season -- a two-run shot over the wall in right field driving home Casey Schmitt.
An inning later, Jacob Maekawa singled to left field and after the ball was mishandled by Bulldog left fielder Austin Chastain, Ryan Orr scored to give SDSU a 6-5 lead and put the Aztecs on top for good.
The Aztecs crossed home a trio of important insurance runs in the top of the sixth, including another RBI single by Jarvis and a 2-RBI single by Orr.
After Michael Paredes delivered a five-inning inning start with seven hits, five runs and one walk allowed to earn his third win of the year, SDSU turned towards Adrian Mardueno for the game's final four innings. Mardueno, who earned his second save of the year, finished another stellar outing one walk, no earned runs, and five strikeouts.
Paredes and Mardueno teamed up for a span of 12 consecutive batters retired -- a streak that was snapped in Fresno State's one-run seventh that featured an unearned Bulldog run crossing the plate.
The Aztecs brought the score to its final 10-6 with Matt Rudick posting an RBI single in the top of the ninth.
Three Aztecs recorded three hits apiece, including Jaden Fein (3-for-5, R), Jarvis (3-for-5, 2 R, 2 RBI), and Orr (3-for-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2B). All nine starters in the Aztec lineup recorded at least one hit, including Rudick, Julian Escobedo, and Armenta who all recorded a pair of base hits in the win.
The Aztecs went 10-for-23 (.435) with runners on base while holding the Bulldogs to a 3-for-11 (.273) clip in the same situation.
NOTES
- With a win tomorrow, the Aztecs and Bulldogs would enter the final weekend of the season with FS leading for first place by a half-game. To clinch the regular-season championship, the Aztecs would need to win one more game against New Mexico than Fresno State does at UNLV in the final weekend.
- With a loss tomorrow, the Aztecs would need to sweep New Mexico and UNLV would need to sweep Fresno State to win the regular season championship.
- SDSU ties up the all-time series with Fresno State at 102-102.
- Fresno State, the Mountain West leader in team ERA, has allowed 10 or more runs in a game three times this season. The Aztecs account for two of those three games.
- With a 3-for-5 effort at the plate, Jaden Fein increased his in-conference batting average to a team-best .377. Fein has also recorded at least one hit in 10 consecutive Mountain West games and has reached base in each of his last 16 games overall.
- Adrian Mardueno has not allowed an earned run in 18 of his 23 relief appearances this season. Since the start of April, Mardueno owns a 0.88 ERA and 4-0 record with a save in 30.2 innings pitched.
- Matt Rudick extended his Mountain West on-base streak to 37 games, the longest streak since Quintin Berry's 48-game streak in 2006. In addition, Rudick extended his hitting streak to 10 games and recorded his team-leading 20th multiple-hit game of the season.
- SDSU improves to 37-1 in their last 38 games when scoring 10 or more runs.
- SDSU improves to 17-4 this season and has won 10 in a row when hitting a home run.
- The Aztecs improve to 11-3 when playing on a Saturday this season.
- The Aztecs are 4-1 in games which Michael Paredes makes a start.
UP NEXT
With major conference standings implications on the line, the rubber game of the series between the Aztecs and Bulldogs is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network, and SDSU RHP Aaron Eden (4-1, 3.31 ERA) is scheduled to take the ball against Fresno State's LHP Nikoh Mitchell (2-4, 4.81 ERA).
Baseball Evens Series at Fresno State With 10-6 Win
