LAS VEGAS – San Diego State continued its hot-hitting on Saturday in a 28-8 romp over UNLV in the second game of a Mountain West weekend series at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Aztecs' 28 runs and 25 hits marked the team's highest totals since a 31-0 shutout over Air Force in the nightcap of a doubleheader at Tony Gwynn Stadium on April 22, 2007, during which the Scarlet and Black compiled 29 hits to tie a school record.
SDSU also banged out 29 hits against Colorado State on May 6, 1990, while the Division I program record for runs was established on May 5, 2006 in a 36-11 rout at Air Force.
With Saturday's win, SDSU recorded its fourth straight triumph, improving to 4-5 on the year and 2-0 in Mountain West play, while the Rebels drop to 4-6 overall and 0-2 in conference action. The Aztecs have notched 56 of their 90 hits this season in the last four games--all victories.
Eight players finished with multiple hits for San Diego State, including Tino Bethancourt, who went 3-for-5 with a collegiate-best six RBIs, highlighted by a three-run homer, while TJ Fondtain smacked a grand slam for his third round-tripper of the season.
Hitless in his previous four games, Caden Miller broke out of his slump with a career highs of four hits and four runs scored, while Cole Carrigg and Poncho Ruiz finished with three hits and three RBIs apiece.
In addition, the Scarlet and Black received two hits each from Fondtain, Irvin Weems, Xavier Gonzalez and Drew Giannini.
Overall, SDSU cranked out nine extra base hits, including the aforementioned bombs by Bethancourt and Fondtain, while Giannini went yard for the first time in an Aztec uniform with a solo shot.
Robert Brodell (2-1) picked up his second straight victory, yielding two unearned runs on a pair of hits and no walks in 2 1/3 innings after entering for starter Chris Canada with two outs in the fourth.
Canada gave up five runs on six hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts in his third appearance of year.
The teams traded proverbial punches for the first two innings, with the Aztecs maintaining an 8-5 lead, duplicating the final score from Friday's win.
However, SDSU turned on the afterburners in the middle three frames, outscoring UNLV 16-2 to put the game out of reach. The Aztecs plated five runs in the fourth and three markers in the fifth—all with two outs.
San Diego State continued the onslaught in the sixth, sending 10 batters to the plate for seven additional runs on just four hits, bookended by Giannini's solo blast and Fondtain's grand slam, with the latter coming on the heels of RBI singles by Carrigg and Ruiz.
The Aztecs closed out the scoring in the eighth on pinch-hitter Brian Leonhardt's two-run single, which brought home Gonzalez and Giannini.
With gusty winds wreaking havoc in Earl E. Wilson Stadium, SDSU capitalized on seven Rebel errors, committing just three of its own in the victory.
UNLV starter Josh Sharman (2-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and a walk with just one strikeout in three-plus innings. Jordan Hanson was the lone hurler out of five Rebel relievers not to give up run Saturday, tossing the final 1 1/3 innings with one hit and a pair of strikeouts.
Jacob Sharp (3 RBIs) and Gianni Horvat (2 runs) finished with two hits each to lead UNLV, while Paul Myro crossed the plate on two occasions as well.
San Diego State looks to complete the weekend sweep on Sunday when it battles the Rebels in the series finale, beginning at 12:05 p.m. PT
Big Innings Help Aztecs Throttle UNLV, 28-8
