Aztecs Stumble Late in 8-6 Setback at USD

SAN DIEGO – In the first of consecutive non-conference games to start the week, San Diego State dropped an 8-6 decision to the University of San Diego in a crosstown battle Monday night at Fowler Park.

With the loss, the Aztecs (14-27) had their three-game winning streak snapped, while the Toreros (15-24) won their ninth straight largely thanks to Rex Watson’s three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh that erased SDSU’s 6-5 lead.

Trailing 5-1, the Aztecs flashed their resiliency by scoring five runs on four straight hits with two outs in the top of the fifth to vault in front.

After retiring the first two hitters, USD reliever AJ Frausto issued a pair of walks to Drew Rutter and Zane Kelly, with the former racing home on Jonathan Smith’s sharp single to right center. Moments later, Nevan Noonan ripped the first of three consecutive doubles down the left-field line for the Scarlet Black, plating Kelly.

Jamie Robertson relieved Frausto at this juncture and promptly yielded an opposite-field double to CJ Moran, which brought home Smith and Noonan, while Daniel Arambula followed with a two-bagger of his own shortly thereafter to knock in Moran.

Clinging to a slim 6-5 advantage, SDSU’s third pitcher of the night Connor Shaw retired five straight batters, including Jack Gurevitch’s flyout to begin the seventh followed by a strikeout of Isaiah Lane. However, Shaw surrendered a four-pitch walk to Austin Smith before giving way to Issac Araiza.

Araiza lasted just one batter, hitting AJ Beltre with a pitch before Peyton Rodgers was summoned from the bullpen. Facing a 3-2 count, Watson went deep over the right-field fence to give the hosts an 8-6 lead they would not relinquish.

The Aztecs put two runners aboard in the eighth on walks to Moran and Xavier Farnum sandwiched around a pop-foul and a flyout. However, reliever Jack McWilliams avoided trouble when Finley Bates bounced into a fielder’s choice at second.

Fernando Palencia entered in the ninth and gave up a one-out walk to Kelly but quickly recorded a strikeout and then induced a flyout to earn his first career save.

Despite giving up one run in 2 1/3 innings, Robertson (1-0) earned the victory and posted a game-high six strikeouts, all of which were recorded in succession after he allowed the aforementioned doubles in the fifth.  On the flip side, Araiza (1-2) was charged with the loss.

Arambula and Moran led the Scarlet and Black with two hits apiece, matching USD’s AJ Anzai for game-high honors.

For the fourth game in a row, the Aztecs scored first, as Kelly raced home on Noonan’s sacrifice fly in their initial trip to the plate.

The Toreros responded in their half of the first with consecutive sacrifice flies by Beltre and Watson to claim a 2-1 advantage. Previously, USD loaded the bases when Gurevitch walked and Lane was hit by a pitch before Smith singled to left.

USD extended its lead to 5-1 in the third, scoring three runs on just one hit, capitalizing on two hit batters and an error. Anzai delivered the big hit with a two-out double into right field off SDSU starter Luka Pintar (2.2 IP), which brought in Smith, while Nico Libed scored moments later when the throw back to the infield went uncovered.

Aaron Kniffin (2.1 IP, 1 BB) took the hill for the Aztecs and struck out Aden Howard before completing two additional scoreless frames without a hit while fanning two other batters.

UP NEXT
San Diego State returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 22 when it plays host to Cal State Fullerton at Tony Gwynn Stadium, starting at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Titans matchup will air live on the Mountain West Network.