Aztecs Sweep Spartans in Saturday Doubleheader to Open MW Play

SAN DIEGO – Powered by Daniel Arambula’s two home runs and a pair of stellar pitching performances, San Diego State captured both ends of a Mountain West doubleheader vs. San José State Saturday at Tony Gwynn Stadium, opening with a big 16-1 run-rule victory in seven innings before claiming a 6-4 decision in the nightcap.

In two games, Arambula went 4-for-7 at the plate with eight RBIs and four runs scored, while starting pitchers Omar Serrano and Marko Sipila earned victories in their respective appearances, helping the Aztecs (6-13, 2-0 MW) emerge triumphant in their first two conference games of the 2025 campaign.

GAME ONE
Arambula’s first career grand slam highlighted a six-run first inning for San Diego State, which equaled its highest run-total of the season.

CJ Moran opened the scoring for the Scarlet and Black with a base hit through the right side, plating Finley Bates, who singled to lead off the frame before advancing on Drew Rutter’s sacrifice.

In the interim, Nevan Noonan and Jake Jackson were each issued a walk, with the latter reaching after EJ McGrew replaced starter Jesse Gutierrez, who exited after facing just four batters.

Moments later, Zane Kelly walked to force in Noonan from third, setting the stage for Arambula, who lifted a towering shot over the fence in left on a 2-1 offering from McGrew to give the Aztecs an insurmountable advantage.

SDSU quickly increased its lead to 8-0 in the second when Arambula knocked in Moran with a single to right and later scored from second on Jonathan Smith’s hot smash to first, which deflected past the reach of the Spartan defense.

After Kelly crossed the plate on Evan Sipe’s sacrifice fly in the fourth, SJSU pitchers lost control in the fifth, allowing seven runs on just two hits, as the contest evolved into a run-away. SDSU drew four walks with the bases loaded, while Kelly delivered an RBI single. In addition, Jake Jackson raced home on a wild pitch, while Sipe was forced in after Moran was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded once again.

Serrano (1-2) went the distance for his second career complete game, losing a shutout bid in the top of the seventh when Neil Jansen led off with a triple and later scored on Raoul Fabian Jr.’s single.

Nevertheless, Serrano fanned a season-high eight batters to offset five hits and three walks in his longest stint of the year.

Arambula (5 RBIs) was one of three Aztecs to finish with two hits and three runs scored, joining Moran and Kelly, while Bates and Smith each collected two hits of their own.

The Spartans utilized six pitchers in the game, combining for 13 walks and two hit batters against only four strikeouts.

GAME TWO
Arambula’s two-run homer in the sixth broke a 2-2 deadlock and ultimately provided the winning margin, as the Scarlet and Black withstood a late SJSU rally.

Arambula continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 effort at the plate and three RBIs, while Rutter also totaled a pair of hits.

In his longest stint of the 2025 campaign, Sipila (1-1) posted a season-high eight strikeouts in eight-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk before giving way to Xavier Cardenas III in the ninth.

The Aztecs plated two runs in the second to grab the early lead, as Moran led off with a single to left and moved to second on Rutter’s sacrifice before racing home on Arambula’s base hit to right.

In the interim, Kelly drew a walk and ultimately crossed the plate on Sipe’s perfectly executed squeeze bunt.

The Spartans responded with a marker in the third when Drew Giannini tripled and scored on Jake Maroney’s RBI single, while Jake McCoy touched home with two outs in the sixth after a double and Jeriah Lewis’ base hit to center, which knotted the game at 2-2.

However, SDSU countered with some two-out magic of its own in the bottom of the frame, as Kelly ripped a double down the right-field line, while Arambula followed with his second homer of the day and third of the season to put the host school in front for good.

The Aztecs extended their advantage in the seventh when Rutter sprinted home on a wild pitch after a one-out single and Noonan’s double down the left-field line. Moments later, Noonan crossed the plate on Moran’s sacrifice fly, giving the Scarlet and Black a 6-2 edge.

After Jansen doubled home Lewis in the ninth, Cardenas replaced Sipila on the mound and promptly uncorked a wild pitch before striking out Giannini. Jansen soon raced home on Maroney’s sacrifice fly, which narrowed the gap to 6-4.

Following a walk to Alex Fernandes, however, Cardenas fanned Rocco Caballero to preserve the victory and collect his first career save.

SJSU starter David Thomas (0-1) was charged with the loss after yielding four runs on five hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

UP NEXT
San Diego State wraps up its weekend series against the San José State on Sunday at noon PT. The series finale will air live on the Mountain West Network and the first 250 fans in attendance will receive free Aztec sweat wristbands.