FRESNO, Calif. – Behind Omar Serrano's first career complete game, San Diego State defeated Fresno State in the opener of a Mountain West doubleheader Sunday, 7-1, before the Bulldogs turned the tables in the nightcap with an 11-1 triumph in eight innings.
With the split, the Aztecs move to 4-7 on the season and 1-2 conference play, as Fresno State (7-3, 2-1 MW) claims the weekend series two games to one.
GAME ONE
In game one, Serrano (1-0) gave the SDSU pitching staff a much-needed boost, posting a season-high six strikeouts while yielding just one run on five hits without a walk for his first victory of the year and second as a collegian.
In addition, the Aztec offense came to life with a season-high 14 hits, including four apiece by freshmen Finley Bates and Colby Turner, the latter of whom fell one triple short of the cycle after finishing with three RBIs, highlighted by his first career homer.
Not to be outdone, Irvin Weems also got to the act with two hits and a pair of RBIs, helping the Scarlet and Black jump out to a 5-0 advantage after the first two innings.
SDSU opened the scoring in its first trip to the plate when Bates led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch before racing home on Turner's infield single. Moments later, Weems doubled to the gap in right center to knock in Turner, giving the visitors a 2-0 edge.
The Aztecs kept the momentum in the second when Xavier Gonzalez and Bates reached on consecutive singles sandwiched between a pair of flyouts. Shortly thereafter, Turner roped a double down the left-field line, scoring Gonzalez, while Weems followed with an RBI single to bring in Bates. Turner also slid home safely on the play when the throw to the plate following Weems' hit was mishandled by Fresno State catcher Justin Stransky.
SDSU padded its lead with single markers in the fifth and sixth, respectively, as Jackson doubled and scored on Jacob McCombs' single to right, while Turner went yard for the first time in a Scarlet and Black uniform with a solo shot off the scoreboard in left.
In the interim, Serrano was in complete control, retiring the first nine batters he faced before hitting Eddie Saldivar with a pitch to lead off the fourth. However, the Aztec junior finished the inning unscathed by getting Tommy Hopfe to ground into a double play before striking out Murf Gray to end the threat.
The Bulldogs finally recorded their first two hits of the game on consecutive singles by Grady Morgan and Rocco Peppi to lead off the fifth before Serrano closed the door once again. Moments later, Peppi was erased at second on a fielder's choice, while Marco Pirruccello struck out, followed by Ben Newton's flyout to left.
Fresno State spoiled Serrano's shutout bid in the eighth when Saldivar was hit by a pitch and circled the bases on Hopfe's double to right.
Hopfe and Morgan led the Bulldogs with two hits apiece, while starting pitcher Noah Beal (0-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on 11 hits to go with four strikeouts in four innings. After Beal pitched to the first two batters in the fifth, Jake Riding worked the rest of game, giving up one run on three hits while fanning four batters of his own.
GAME TWO
SDSU was unable to duplicate the success in the nightcap against Fresno State starter Jack Anker, who improved to 3-0 on the season after yielding just one run on four hits without a walk in seven innings while striking out eight batters.
Offensively, the Bulldogs out-hit the Aztecs, 13-5, plating two runs in the bottom of the eighth for the run-rule victory in the get-away game of the weekend.
Fresno State totaled six extra-base hits in the contest, including solo home runs by Peppi and Saldivar.
Saldivar opened the scoring for the host school in the first, leading off with a double to left before racing home on consecutive groundouts.
Leading 1-0, the Bulldogs extended their advantage in the fourth when Peppi went deep to right, while Tyler Davis and Michael McKernan followed with consecutive RBI doubles.
Fresno State gave itself some additional breathing room after Gray touched home on a bases-loaded walk to Newton in the fifth, while Saldivar homered in the sixth.
SDSU broke its scoring drought in the seventh when Weems doubled home Bethancourt with two outs. Previously, Weems led off the frame with a double of his own before advancing to third on a flyout.
The Aztecs were hounded by the big inning once again in the seventh, as the Bulldogs tallied three runs on three hits to increase the margin to 9-1. Pirruccello doubled and scored on a single up the middle by Newton, who ultimately touched the plate and on bases-loaded walk to Saldivar, while Hopfe was hit by a pitch, plating Davis, who previously walked as well.
Pirruccello later added a two-run single in the eighth to end the game, scoring Morgan and Peppi, who earlier reached base on an infield hit and a walk, respectively.
Xavier Cardenas III (1-1) absorbed the defeat, surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters before giving way to Aidan Russell with one out in the fifth. Jadon Bercovich entered in the sixth but was eventually spelled by Evan Miranda, who induced a double play for the final two outs in the seventh.
Bethancourt and Shaun Montoya led SDSU with two hits each, while five players in the Bulldog dugout finished with two apiece as well, including Gray, Saldivar, Pirruccello, McKernan and Davis.
UP NEXT
San Diego State opens a six-game homestand with a pair of crosstown battles early this week, squaring off against the San Diego Toreros on Tuesday, March 5, before facing the UC San Diego Tritons on Wednesday, March 6. Both games are slated for a 6 p.m. PT start at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Aztecs Split Doubleheader at Fresno State
