SAN DIEGO – San Diego State was unable to maintain an early lead on Friday, as visiting UNLV scored nine unanswered runs to claim a 9-2 decision in the opener of a Mountain West weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
After plating the first two scores of the contest, the Aztecs (10-22, 4-12 MW) were unable to solve Rebel starter Austin Cates (5-2), who posted 13 strikeouts in eight innings without a walk, offsetting six hits for the victory.
Meanwhile, UNLV (18-15, 6-10 MW) capitalized on two walks, two errors and a hit batter in the top of the second, scoring six runs on four hits to vault in front for good.
Austin Kryszczuk led the Rebels with three RBIs, including a solo homer, finishing with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate, while Rylan Charles went 3-for-5 with three runs scored.
Finley Bates led off the SDSU first with his second home run of the year on a 1-2 delivery from Cates, while Tino Bethancourt doubled and ultimately scored on Jacob McCombs' fielder's choice grounder to first. Earlier, Bethancourt ripped a double down the left-field line, while Irvin Weems followed with a single through the left side.
However, the Aztecs managed just three hits for the remainder of Cates' start before Joey Acosta retired the side in the ninth, capped by a pair of strikeouts.
Trailing 2-0, UNLV responded with Kruszczuk's ninth dinger of the season to lead off the second, while Parker Schmidt drew a walk and stayed alive when a throw to second on Isaac Rodriguez's fielder's choice grounder went awry. Moments later, Rodriguez stole second, while Santino Panaro drew another walk to load the bases.
Paul Myro IV was subsequently hit by a pitch to bring in Schmidt, while Rodriguez crossed the plate on Charles' single to left. Shortly thereafter, JP Hefft singled in Panaro, while Myro took third and raced home on a fielding error in left field. Kade Higgins soon plated Charles with a sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 6-2 advantage.
The Rebels added another run in the fourth on Kryszczuk's one-out double to right-center, knocking in Charles, who led off the frame with a two-bagger of his own.
Kryszczuk also singled home Charles in the sixth, while Higgins crossed the plate when Rodriguez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded later in the inning to account for the final score.
Despite six strikeouts, SDSU starter Jacob Riordan (3-3) was saddled with his second straight loss after giving up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Bates and David Whittle led the Aztecs offensively with two hits apiece.
UP NEXT
San Diego State and UNLV resume their weekend series on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Fall to UNLV in Series Opener, 9-2
