SAN DIEGO – Coinciding with the stubborn marine layer lifting, San Diego State's fortunes brightened considerably on Saturday, as the Aztecs overcame a 6-1 deficit to defeat New Mexico 8-6 in eight innings at Tony Gwynn Stadium and clinch a share of the Mountain West regular-season title.
With the victory, the Aztecs (24-27, 18-11 MW) complete a season sweep of the Lobos and earned a co-championship with San José State after the Spartans (27-24 MW, 18-11 MW) knocked off Nevada later in the afternoon by a 6-1 count at home.
In addition, SDSU's title marks its first MW regular-season championship since the 2004 campaign and third overall (2002).
Tino Bethancourt's two-run single in the bottom of the seventh provided the winning margin for the Aztecs, who also celebrated Senior Day festivities prior to Saturday's contest.
The Scarlet and Black also received a clutch performance on the mound from reliever Omar Serrano (1-5), who held New Mexico scoreless over the final 6 1/3 innings for his first victory of the season.
With the score knotted at 6-6, Xavier Gonzalez looped a leadoff single to left and promptly advanced on a wild pitch. Moments later, Cole Carrigg reached on a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop, as Gonzalez alertly scampered to third on errant throw to first.
Brian McBroom, the Lobos third pitcher of the day, replaced Jaren Jackson at this juncture and struck out pinch hitter Cade Martinez following Carrigg's steal of second base. Bethancourt, who was 0-for-3 on the day, stepped up to the plate and ripped a 1-2 pitch into right field, as Gonzalez and Carrigg crossed the plate to give the Scarlet and Black an 8-6 advantage.
Serrano retired UNM in order in the eighth, as the Aztec dugout stormed the field in jubilation. The contest was halted in the eighth due to the Lobos' tight travel schedule.
Serrano turned in a masterful performance on Saturday, keeping UNM off the scoreboard, which allowed the Aztecs to creep back into contention. The SDSU sophomore posted eight strikeouts, his second-highest total of the season, while yielding just one hit and a pair of walks.
After giving up a leadoff single in the fourth, Serrano retired 10 straight batters until Braydon Runion drew a walk with one out in the top of the seventh. Following a balk, the Aztec right-hander struck out Reed Spenrath before inducing a ground out to Jake Holland.
Things looked grim for the Scarlet and Black after the Lobos scored five runs on three hits in the top of the second off starter Chris Canada. Lenny Junior Ashby drove in a pair of runners with a single to right field, while Spenrath belted a two-run homer high over the fence in right following a Runion sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 6-1 advantage.
Unfazed, the Aztecs fought themselves off the ropes with four runs on four hits, all with two outs in the bottom of the third. TJ Fondtain plated Irvin Weems with a single through the right side, while Poncho Ruiz singled down the third-base line and ultimately scored on a wild pitch. Moments later, Gonzalez blooped a single to shallow left, bringing home Fondtain and Caden Miller, who previously walked.
SDSU scored the equalizer in the bottom of the sixth when Shaun Montoya smashed a triple down the right-field line before racing home on Ruiz' sacrifice fly to deep right-center, setting the stage for Bethancourt's heroics in the seventh.
Montoya and Gonzalez paced the Aztecs' 13-hit attack with three apiece, while Weems and Fondtain finished with two hits apiece in the victory. Fondtain drove in SDSU's first run in the bottom of the first with a single through the right side after Weems doubled down the left-field line and took third on a wild pitch.
Isaac Gallegos started for UNM, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks with just three strikeouts before Jackson took the hill with two outs in the fifth. Jackson (2-3) was saddled with the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits and a pair of walks in 1 1/3 innings.
Prior to Saturday's clash, the Aztecs held a special Senior Day ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of Robert Brodell, Brian Leonhardt, Caden Miller, Julian Jackson, Ricky Tibbett and student managers Max Foxcroft and Cade Logan.
San Diego State, which received the No. 2 seed at the 2023 Mountain West Championship next week in Fresno, California, will open the conference tournament on Thursday, May 25, when it tackles Air Force at 1:30 p.m. PT from Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. Every game of the MW Championship will air live on the Mountain West Network.
Aztecs Clinch Share of MW Regular-Season Title
