Aztecs Fall to Nevada to Open MW Bracket Play

MESA, Ariz. – Fifth-seeded San Diego State opened bracket play on a sour note Thursday at the Credit Union 1 Mountain West Championship, dropping a 15-4 decision in seven innings to No. 1 seed Nevada at Sloan Park.

Despite some early momentum courtesy of Nevan Noonan’s two-run homer with one out in the top of the first, the Aztecs (20-38) were unable to contain an opportunistic Wolf Pack offense that drove in 10 runs with two outs, including five in their half of the opening frame.

As a result, SDSU will face San José State in an elimination game on Friday at 11:05 p.m. MST/PDT, while Nevada (33-21) will play Fresno State later in the afternoon at 3:05 p.m.

The No. 2 seed  Bulldogs (29-27) defeated the sixth-seeded Spartans (27-29) on Thursday evening.

Earlier in the day, Noonan went yard for the ninth time this season, crushing the first pitch from Wolf Pack starter Peyton Fosher over the left-field fence to score Jonathan Smith, who previously walked.

However, Nevada answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning before plating three additional markers in the second to take an 8-2 lead it would not relinquish.

The Wolf Pack maintained a 16-8 advantage in hits, including three apiece by Jackson Waller, Billy Ham and Jake Harvey, while Jayce Dobie, Michael Ball and Taylor Holder finished with two each.

Waller fell one double short of the cycle after hitting a three-run homer in the first, a two-run triple in the fourth and a two-run single in the fifth.

Along with Noonan, CJ Moran racked up two hits of his own for the Scarlet and Black, including an RBI single in the third, which brought home Smith, who drew his second walk moments earlier.

Trailing 8-3, the Aztecs would draw no closer, however, as Nevada combined for seven runs in the fourth and fifth to put the game out of reach.

In addition to Waller’s aforementioned triple, Harvey laced a two-run single in the fourth, while Ham contributed an RBI double in the fifth.

Later in the seventh, reserve Gage Adams reached on a throwing error and ultimately scored on Moran’s sacrifice fly, but with the run-rule in effect, SDSU was unable to extend the game, as Wolf Pack reliever Eric Valdez recorded a strikeout to end the contest.

Fosher (6-4) earned the victory after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with fourth strikeouts, while Aztec starter Xavier Cardenas III (1.2 IP 8 R) was charged with the loss (1-6).

SERIES/TOURNAMENT NOTES
The Aztecs slip to 1-3 in the season series against the Wolf Pack.

In addition, SDSU drops to 30-47 in the all-time series vs. Nevada, including a 2-4 mark in Mountain West Championship competition.

The Aztecs also move to 51-35 in conference tournament play since the inception of the Mountain West in 1999-2000.

With his fourth inning single, Evan Sipe has now hit safely in six straight games, which marks the team’s longest current streak.

Nevan Noonan (HR, 1B) has multiple hits in 25 games this year and has two or more RBIs on 17 occasions.

UP NEXT
San Diego State will play sixth-seeded San Jose State in an elimination game on Friday, May 23, at 11:05 a.m. MST/PDT.