Aztecs Roll Past Huskies in Series Opener, 9-4

SEATTLE – San Diego State banged out a season-high 16 hits on Friday to key its 9-4 triumph over Washington in the opener of a four-game series at Husky Ballpark.

The Aztecs (6-3) also received another superb pitching performance from Rohan Lettow, who combined on a five-hitter with Bryce McKnight to help the Scarlet and Black prevail in its inaugural meeting against Huskies in Seattle. The two sides squared off on 13 previous occasions in San Diego, along with a neutral-site game in 2003.

Jake Jackson and Anthony Marnell IV paced the SDSU offense with three hits apiece, while Jabin Trosky (2 runs), Tyce Peterson (2 runs) and Adam Magpoc collected two each.

Marnell’s big night featured a two-run homer, as the Aztec designated hitter finished with five RBIs, his career best at the Division I level.

On the mound, Lettow (2-0) picked up his second straight victory after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks in six innings to go with seven strikeouts.

Despite yielding a solo homer in the ninth, reliever Bryce McKnight worked the final three innings to register his first collegiate save, posting four strikeouts, including two in the final frame.

With Lettow’s and McKnight’s efforts, SDSU recorded 10 or more strikeouts for the seventh time in nine games this season.

The Aztecs never trailed in Friday’s contest, plating a run with two outs in the first when Jackson drove in Trosky, who got aboard on an infield hit and stole second.

SDSU increased its lead to 3-0 in the second when Marnell homered for the second straight game, crushing the first pitch from UW starter Noah Kenney, as Dawson Santana circled the bases on the blast. Previously, Santana reached on a throwing error by third baseman Blake Wilson.

The Aztecs tacked on a run in the fourth when Trosky drew a two-out walk and sprinted home on Magpoc’s double down the right-field line.

The Huskies (1-8) finally showed signs of life in the bottom of the inning on Colton Bower’s two-run homer with two outs, plating Braeden Terry, who previously doubled and advanced on a grounder to first.

With its lead trimmed in half at 4-2, SDSU quickly regained a four-run cushion with a pair of markers in the sixth. Jackson led off with a double and ultimately scored on Zach Justice’s RBI single after Peterson was hit by a pitch. Moments later, Peterson crossed the plate on Zane Kelly’s grounder to third after Justice was erased at second on Santana’s fielder’s choice grounder.

UW trimmed the margin to 6-3 with an unearned run in the sixth after Terry blooped a two-out triple to left and subsequently scored when Lettow’s throw to first on Ty Cowan’s tapper to mound pulled Max Farrell off the bag.

Unfazed, the Aztecs broke the contest open in the ninth on Marnell’s two-run single, while Kelly followed with another RBI on an infield hit to second. Earlier, SDSU loaded the bases with two outs after Peterson’s hustling double to left center, while Justice reached on a throwing error at third base and Santana was hit by a pitch.

Marnell put the finishes touches on his productive evening with a solid single to center on a 2-2 pitch, driving home Peterson and Justice, while Santana raced home on Kelly’s single.

The Huskies utilized three pitchers on Friday, with Kenney (1-1) absorbing the loss after surrendering six runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings. Carson Boeser then tossed three scoreless innings before Tyler Walker gave up three unearned markers in the ninth.

UW closed out the scoring with Terry’s solo homer in the ninth, which proved too little too late, as McKnight struck out Ian Draper to end the game.

Trosky extended his hitting streak to nine consecutive games with his two hits, while Farrell reached base safely for the ninth straight contest with a second-inning walk before singling in the eighth.

San Diego State and Washington resume their series on Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Huskies clash will air live on Big Ten Network+. SDSU is scheduled to start Drew Talavs (1-1), while UW is expected counter with Jackson Thomas (0-0).