Lancers Pull Away From Aztecs in Tuesday Night Battle

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State had its late comeback bid thwarted against California Baptist on Tuesday in a 10-4 setback at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Trailing 6-0, the Aztecs (10-23) narrowed the gap with four runs in the sixth inning, only to see the Lancers (18-15) put the game out of reach with four markers of their own over the final two frames to complete the season sweep.

Xavier Farnum led the Scarlet and Black with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, highlighted by a three-run triple in that sixth-inning rally. Previously, SDSU loaded the bases when Nevan Noonan and Cody Liscio were both hit by pitches, while Zane Kelly roped a single to center field.

After sliding safely into third, Farnum raced home on pinch hitter Eli Selga’s sacrifice fly, which trimmed the margin to 6-4.

The Aztecs advanced a runner to second in the seventh after Daniel Arambula led off with a single and moved up on Noonan’s groundout. However, reliever David Vizcaino entered at this juncture and recorded consecutive strikeouts to extinguish the threat.

Shortly thereafter, CBU gave itself some additional breathing room in the eighth when Julian Alvarez drew a bases-loaded walk, while Chris Ramirez followed with a two-run single.

The Lancers accounted for the final score on Ben Castelli’s RBI single in the ninth.

Along with Farnum’s production, SDSU received a pair of hits from Finley Bates and Zane Kelly, while Arambula, Noonan and Escobar also singled.

After a scoreless opening frame, California Baptist plated four runs on five hits in the second off Aztec starter Chris Canavan (1-2) to seize control. Bubba Rocha provided the big hit in the inning with a two-run double, bringing home Matt Chavez and Ramirez, who previously reached on a single and a fielder’s choice, respectively.

The Lancers extended their advantage on a run-scoring single by Alvarez in the fifth, followed by Castelli’s RBI groundout in the sixth.

Six CBU players recorded multiple hits, including four by Castelli, while Alvarez (2 hits) tied Farnum for game-high honors with three RBIs.

The Lancers’ second pitcher of the night J. Orozco (2-2) was credited with the victory after allowing two hits and a pair of walks with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Meanwhile, the Aztecs utilized seven hurlers in the contest, including freshman Aaron Kniffin, who made his collegiate debut, allowing one unearned run on one walk in 1 2/3 innings.

The teams combined to strand 22 baserunners, including 13 for California Baptist. SDSU also had the bases loaded in the fifth on walks to Bates and Gage Adams following a Farnum single. However, Orozco avoided disaster with an inning-ending strikeout.

UP NEXT
San Diego State continues its homestand this weekend when it plays host to Fresno State in a key three-game Mountain West series, April 11-13, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs (6-6 MW) are currently tied for third in the conference standings, two games behind the first-place Bulldogs (8-4 MW).