Aztecs Drop Series Opener at Saint Mary's
San Diego State was unable to maintain an early lead in its series opener on Friday, as Saint Mary’s rallied for a 19-9 triumph in eight innings in Moraga, California.
- Game 1
- Game 2
MORAGA, Calif. – San Diego State was unable to maintain an early lead in its series opener on Friday, as Saint Mary’s rallied for a 19-9 triumph in eight innings at Louis Guisto Field at Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium.
After the Aztecs (4-6) built a 9-3 advantage midway through the fifth inning, the Gaels scored the final 16 runs of the contest to complete the run-rule victory.
Finley Bates and Daniel Arambula tied for team-high honors with three hits apiece, while Jake Jackson went 2-for-4 at the plate, matching his career best with four RBIs.
The Scarlet and Black put up three markers in the top of the first on CJ Moran’s RBI double and Arambula’s first career homer, a two-run blast to left.
SDSU kept the momentum with four tallies in the second, highlighted by Jackson’s two-run single, while Arambula and Zane Kelly followed with an RBI single and sacrifice fly, respectively.
Saint Mary’s (6-4) broke through with a pair of runs in their half of the frame on Jared Mettam’s sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Tanner Griffith.
Jackson later doubled home Bates in third and lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth to plate Drew Rutter, who led off with a single and took third on Bates’ base hit to left.
In the interim, the Gaels received a sacrifice fly of their own from Ian Armstrong in the fourth before initiating their comeback in the bottom of the fifth with four runs on five hits. After Griffith and Armstrong laced back-to-back RBI singles, Diego Castellanos followed with a two-run triple with two outs, trimming the margin to 9-7.
Saint Mary’s promptly tied the game on Ryan Pierce’s two-run homer in the sixth before erupting for seven markers in the seventh to vault in front for good. The Gaels sent 11 batters to plate in the latter inning, as Cody Kashimoto ignited the outburst with a two-run double, while Griffith later added a two-run single.
Griffith (4-for-4) led all players with four hits and five RBIs, while Pierce (3-for-6) launched his second two-run homer of the game in the eighth.
Garret Plata (2-0) pitched the final three innings to earn his second victory of the season, offsetting two walks with a pair of strikeouts in his scoreless and hitless appearance, while Chris Canavan (1-1) was charged with the loss.
UP NEXT
San Diego State resumes its weekend series at Saint Mary’s on Saturday, March 1, starting at 1 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Gaels clash will air live via subscription basis on ESPN+.