Aztecs Victorious in Series Opener at San Jose State, 5-2
Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter Thursday as San Diego State opened its key Mountain West series against San José State with a 5-2 triumph at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, California.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter Thursday as San Diego State opened its key Mountain West series against San José State with a 5-2 triumph at Excite Ballpark.
With the victory, the Aztecs (12-26, 8-8 MW) won for the third time in four meetings against the Spartans (20-18, 8-8 MW) this season, with two sides now tied for fourth place in the MW standings.
Starter Garvey Rumary (2-4) picked up the win after pitching a career-long six innings with four strikeouts, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks.
In addition, relievers Peyton Rodgers (2.0 IP) and Xavier Cardenas III (1.0 IP) kept SJSU off the board for the final three frames with each fanning two hitters.
Despite giving up a hit and a walk in the ninth, Cardenas collected his fifth save of the season after striking out Zach Tallerman and Drew Giannini with runners at the corners to end the game.
After the Spartans took the early lead on Zach Chamizo’s sacrifice fly in the first, the Aztecs broke through with a pair of runs with two outs in the top of the third.
Finley Bates drew a one-out walk, advanced on a sacrifice and took third when Nevan Noonan beat out an infield hit. Moments later, Bates crossed the plate on a wild pitch from SJSU starter Kyle Calzadiaz, while Noonan raced home on CJ Moran’s single through the right side, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage.
The Spartans answered with a marker in the bottom of the inning when Jake Maroney scored on Antonio Nanez’s RBI groundout. Previously, Maroney drew a leadoff walk and moved up on a balk and a grounder to first.
However, SDSU wasted little time to reclaim the lead, as Jake Jackson went deep with a solo home run on the first pitch from Calzadiaz in the fourth for his second round-tripper of the season, which put the Scarlet and Black in front to stay at 3-2.
The Aztecs tacked on two additional runs in the sixth to provide for the final margin when Daniel Arambula darted home on a passed ball, while Zane Kelly slid safely across the plate on Evan Sipe’s sacrifice fly, just beating the throw from right fielder Alex Fernandes. Earlier, Arambula led off with a single before motoring around to third on Kelly’s double to center field.
Seven of SDSU’s nine starters recorded at least one hit, including two by Arambula, while Rocco Caballero finished with two hits in the loss.
With Cardenas taking the mound, Caballero led off the ninth with a single deep in the hole at shortstop, while Jeriah Lewis drew a walk. However, Cabellero was erased at third on JC Osorio-Agard’s fielder’s choice to short.
Shortly thereafter, Lewis advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt at second, but with the potential tying run looming with the next two batters, Cardenas came up huge, freezing Tallerman on a 0-2 pitch before getting Giannini to wave at strike three on a 2-2 count, as the Aztec dugout erupted in jubilation.
UP NEXT
San Diego State continues its series at San José State on Friday, starting at 6:05 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Spartans clash will air live on the Mountain West Network.