SAN DIEGO – San Diego State concluded its weekend series in disappointing fashion Sunday, as Nevada claimed a 6-0 victory in a Mountain West clash at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Despite recording just one strikeout, Wolf Pack starter Peyton Fosher scattered six hits in 5 2/3 innings without a walk, while three relievers combined for 3 1/3 additional shutout innings to drop the Aztecs to 5-10 on the season and 2-4 in conference play.
Michael Ball (3 hits) and Bryce Matthews drove in two runs apiece for the visitors, while Taylor Holder finished with a pair of hits and one RBI, helping Nevada (6-7, 2-1 MW) win its second straight and capture the series victory.
On the mound, Fosher evened his record at 1-1, while his Aztec counterpart Xavier Cardenas III (1-2) absorbed the loss after yielding four runs on five hits and five walks while posting four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
After stranding three runners in scoring position over the first two innings, the Wolf Pack broke through with a pair of markers in the third when Ball led off with double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before racing home on Matthews' single through the right side. Moments later, Nolan Wilson's sacrifice fly plated Holder, who drew a walk and took third on Matthews' hit.
Nevada extended its lead to 4-0 with single tallies in the fourth and fifth, respectively, as Ball knocked in Jackson Waller with a base hit to left, while Holder crossed the plate on Matthews' RBI groundout.
The score remained unchanged until the ninth, when Jake Harvey doubled and scored on Ball's sharp single up the middle, before circling the bases on consecutive hits by JR Freethy and Holder.
SDSU threatened in the first when Finley Bates doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice. However, Fosher avoided trouble by inducing a pop-up to short and a flyout to left.
The Aztecs also put two runners aboard in the sixth when Jake Jackson reached on a fielder's choice before Tino Bethancourt was hit by a pitch with two outs. However, reliever Dominic Desch took the mound at this juncture and struck out Drew Rutter, who entered as a pinch hitter.
Bethancourt and pinch hitter Trevor Fox also drew walks in SDSU's last chance in the ninth, but Ethan O'Neal induced a flyout to end the game.
The Aztec bullpen trio of Jonny Guzman (2 Ks), Chris Canavan (2 Ks) and Issac Araiza also combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings before Jadon Bercovich entered to start the ninth.
Bates led the Scarlet and Black with two hits in the loss.
San Diego State wraps up its homestand on Tuesday, March 12, when it welcomes UC Riverside to The Mesa for a non-conference battle at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs will be looking to avenge a wild 13-9 setback to the Highlanders in Riverside on Feb. 27.
Aztecs Blanked by Nevada in Series Finale
