Aztecs Topple Fresno State 6-4 to Even MW Series

SAN DIEGO – Nevan Noonan belted two home runs and Evan Escobar added a solo shot to power San Diego State past Fresno State 6-4 in the second game of a Mountain West series Saturday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Noonan recorded his first two round-trippers in a Scarlet and Black uniform, while Escobar utilized the long ball for the first time in his career, helping the Aztecs (11-24, 7-7 MW) even their weekend set against the Bulldogs (16-18, 9-5 MW).

In addition, SDSU received a quality start from senior right-hander Omar Serrano (3-4), who emerged victorious in his third consecutive appearance against Fresno State after yielding just two runs on seven hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts in seven innings.

The Aztecs flipped the script on Saturday, scoring four runs in the first inning to grab an early lead they would not surrender.

After Finley Bates drew a lead-off walk, Noonan crushed an 0-1 pitch from Bulldog starter Aidan Cremarosa over the left-field fence, while Xavier Farnum doubled home Daniel Arambula and Jonathan Smith shortly thereafter.  Previously, Arambula just missed a home run with a double off the wall in left, while Smith dropped in a single near the left-field line.

SDSU extended its lead to 5-0 in the second when Escobar went yard on a 2-1 offering from Cremarosa.

The Bulldogs got into the act in the top of the third when Murf Gray smacked a onto left, but Noonan’s solo blast with two outs in the fourth restored the Aztecs’ five run cushion at 6-1.

Fresno State narrowed the gap in the seventh when Eddie Saldivar’s RBI double plated Lee Treviño, who led off with a walk and advanced on a wild pitch.

After Aidan Russell offset two walks with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, SDSU endured some anxious moments in the ninth when the Bulldogs scored two runs on four hits off closer Xavier Cardenas III.

Sandwiched between a Sky Collins strikeout and a Justin Stransky flyout, Saldivar threaded a single up the middle and promptly scored on Gray’s double to center. Griffen Sotomayor and Bobby Blandford followed with consecutive singles to bring home Gray, but Cardenas withstood the threat with a game-ending strikeout of Cam Schneider.

Noonan finished with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, adding a leadoff single in the seventh, while Smith collected two hits of his own.

In the opposing dugout, Gray tied for game-high honors with three hits, while Treviño and Saldivar notched two apiece in the loss.

Cremarosa (3-5) lasted five innings but allowed all six runs on eight and two walks to go with a pair of strikeouts.

UP NEXT
San Diego State and Fresno State will square off in the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday, April 13, starting at noon PT.