SAN DIEGO – San Diego State pitchers continued their recent brilliance on Saturday, as the Aztecs defeated Nevada, 4-3, in the second game of a Mountain West weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Four hurlers combined on a five-hitter, helping SDSU (16-19, 10-5 MW) win its third straight and climb to within a game of conference leader San José State (19-17, 12-6 MW) in the Mountain West standings after the Spartans dropped a twin bill at Fresno State.
Chris Canada (2-4) collected his first victory in his last four starts, allowing all three runs on three hits and two walks in six-plus innings while striking out eight batters.
The trio of Ricky Tibbett, Eldridge Armstrong III and Kelena Sauer kept Nevada (15-21, 6-13 MW) off the scoreboard for the remainder of the contest, with Sauer building on a career high with his eighth save.
The Aztecs capitalized on two Wolf Pack miscues with a pair of unearned runs in the second, highlighted by Cade Martinez's squeeze bunt and Shaun Montoya's RBI double.
With one out, Irvin Weems reached second on consecutive errors by third baseman Jesse Pierce before Martinez dropped down a perfect bunt along the first-base line, plating TJ Fondtain, who was struck by a pitch to lead off the inning. Moments later, Weems raced home on Montoya's hot smash past first baseman Jaxon Woodhouse.
SDSU added two markers in the fifth on consecutive RBI doubles by Poncho Ruiz and Cole Carrigg after Caden Miller drew a one-out walk.
The Wolf Pack finally broke through with a score in the sixth when Matt Clayton smacked a solo homer off Canada on a 1-1 pitch with two outs. The blast snapped a streak of 26.1 scoreless innings by Aztec pitchers dating back to the series finale at Fresno State on April 16.
Nevada used the long ball to inch closer in the seventh when Pierce led off with a walk and Henry Strmecki followed with a deep shot over the fence in left to narrow the gap to 4-3.
Ricky Tibbett was summoned from the bullpen at this juncture and quickly allowed a single up the middle to pinch hitter Dawson Martin. However, the SDSU reliever flashed his mettle, inducing a flyout and a fielder's choice grounder before striking out Mason Hirata to end the threat.
The Aztecs had a chance to give themselves some insurance after loading the bases in the bottom of the frame. However, Wolf Pack reliever Dillon Holliday was given a reprieve when Tino Bethancourt grounded out to first base. Previously, Miller and Xavier Gonzalez drew walks sandwiched around a pair of outs, while Fondtain was hit by a pitch once again.
SDSU survived an anxious moment in the eighth with Armstrong on the mound when Clayton just missed his second homer of the game, settling for a double that hit off the wall down the left-field line. However, the Aztec sophomore regrouped by inducing a flyout to JR Freethy before striking out Pierce to end the inning.
Sauer then entered in the ninth where he needed just 13 pitches to retire the side in order. After Strmecki whiffed, Jake Harvey grounded out, while Taylor was caught looking on a called third strike to end the game.
Earlier, Canada withstood a Nevada threat in the first when Clayton was hit by a pitch, while Pierce followed with a two-out double off the wall in left-center. However, the Aztec left-hander froze Strmecki on a 2-2 pitch to get out of the jam.
The aforementioned strikeout was the first of 11 straight batters Canada set down before Holder walked with one out in the fifth. Not to be outdone, the Orange, California, native struck out the side in the fourth after throwing just 13 pitches.
San Diego State will look to complete an undefeated week on Sunday when it battles Nevada in the series finale at 1 p.m. PT..
Aztecs Win Third Straight; Defeat Nevada, 4-3
