SAN DIEGO – Fine pitching and timely hitting were on display for the San Diego State baseball team Sunday as the Aztecs salvaged the finale of a three-game weekend series with a 7-1 triumph over Portland at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The win gives SDSU skipper Shaun Cole his first victory as a collegiate head coach and snaps the Aztecs' two-game losing streak to start the season.
Freshman Jake Jackson blasted a two-run homer, while Irvin Weems and Xavier Gonzalez each smacked a solo shot to power San Diego State's 10-hit attack.
Starter Xavier Cardenas III (1-0) picked up the victory on the mound for the Scarlet and Black, scattering four hits and two walks while finishing with a trio of strikeouts in five scoreless innings.
In addition, the Aztecs received a superb performance from reliever Aidan Russell, who pitched the rest of the way, fanning six hitters to offset an unearned run for his first career save.
SDSU never trailed in the contest after grabbing a 1-0 lead in the first on Jackson's RBI groundout, which plated Shaun Montoya. Previously, Montoya reached on a leadoff single before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball.
The Aztecs increased their advantage in the second when Weems blasted a 1-1 offering from Pilot starter Joey Gartrell over the left-field fence for his first round-tripper of the season.
Trailing 2-0, Portland had a chance to trim the deficit in the fourth, but Ryan McCarthy was thrown out at the plate by Jackson on a throw from left field after trying to score from second on Brady Bean's single.
San Diego State soon doubled its lead to 4-0 in the sixth when Jackson scored on Jacob McCombs' RBI double, while Weems crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Earlier, Jackson led off the inning with a base hit to right, while Weems singled through the left side following a pair of groundouts. McCombs, the freshman designated hitter, promptly unleashed a sharp liner that blazed past Portland first baseman Zach Toglia down the right-field line and out of play for a ground-rule double, as Jackson crossed the plate. Moments later, Weems slid home headfirst after Joey Gartrell's pitch to Evan Sipe caromed off the glove of catcher Riley McCarthy.
The Aztecs returned the favor in the top of the seventh when the Pilots dented the scoreboard after Gage Bruce scored on an SDSU passed ball.
SDSU put the game out of reach with a pair of long balls in its half of the frame. Gonzalez led off with his first homer of the season, persevering through an eight-pitch at-bat, while Jackson went yard for the first time in a Scarlet and Black uniform shortly thereafter, driving home pinch hitter Drew Rutter, who previously walked.
Gartrell (0-1) recorded six strikeouts in six innings for the visitors but absorbed the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits without a walk. Meanwhile, Morgan Cadron pitched the fateful seventh, while Brock Gillis took the hill to begin the eighth.
Jackson and Weems tied for game-high honors with two hits apiece.
San Diego State continues its homestand on Tuesday, Feb. 20, when it plays host to CSUN, starting at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Power Past Portland, 7-1
