Aztecs Open MW Play with Run-Rule Victory over WSU, 14-4

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State opened its final conference schedule as members of the Mountain West on Friday with a big 14-4 run-rule victory over Washington State in eight innings at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs received at least one hit from all nine starters, finishing with 14 for the night to snap a three-game slide and raise their record to 10-8 on the season, while the Cougars slip to 6-10 overall.

In addition, five players drove in multiple runs for the Scarlet and Black, led by Max Farrell, who tallied a season-high four RBIs, highlighted by a two-run homer in the first inning. Anthony Marnell IV (2 hits) also knocked in a trio of runs, while Dawson Santana (2 hits), Tyce Peterson, and Zane Kelly notched two RBIs apiece.

Not to be outdone, Adam Magpoc collected two hits and scored a season-high four runs, helping the SDSU defeat Washington State for the fourth straight occasion.

Aztec starter Rohan Lettow (3-0) weathered some early trouble to pick up his third victory of the season, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while offsetting two walks with seven strikeouts. SDSU yielded just one hit over the final three frames, as the trio of Aidan Russell, Chris Canavan and Simon Lemke kept the Cougars off the board in that span.

On the flip side, Luke Meyers (1-3) absorbed the loss for WSU after surrendering eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

The Cougars tallied a pair of markers in their first at-bat of the contest on Dustin Robinson’s run-scoring double down the left-field line, while Mason Pirello added an RBI groundout.

However, the Aztecs quickly flipped the script in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs on six hits after sending nine batters to the plate. Jabin Trosky (2 hits) led off with a double and advanced on a wild pitch before Farrell stepped to the plate and smacked a 3-2 offering from Meyers over the left-field fence for his first collegiate round-tripper.

Following a flyout, SDSU continued its barrage with four consecutive hits, featuring Magpoc’s RBI single and Marnell’s two-run double, which gave the host school a 5-2 advantage it would not relinquish.

The score remained unchanged until the fourth when the two teams traded unearned runs. Gavin Roy’s singled home Cam McLeod, who previously reached on a throwing error and stole second for WSU, while the Aztecs countered with Farrell’s sacrifice fly, which plated Marnell, who led off with a walk.

The Cougars trimmed the margin to 6-4 in the fifth on triples by Trevor Smith and Max Hartman sandwiched around a pop fly behind second. However, Lettow prevented further damage with consecutive strikeouts of Robinson and Pirello.

However, SDSU began to give itself some separation in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of Kelly’s two-run single with two outs against WSU reliever Rylan Haider. Previously, Magpoc reached on a fielding error at shortstop, while Santana followed with a single to shallow left, as both runners advanced on a groundout. Kelly then threaded a single through the middle on 1-2 pitch from Haider, who took the mound just moments earlier.

The Aztecs broke the game open in the seventh with another five-run outburst on four hits, two walks and a hit batter, as SDSU sent 10 men to plate in the frame. Marnell and Peterson each delivered two-run singles, while Farrell added his second sacrifice fly of the contest.

The Aztecs abruptly ended the game in the eighth when Magpoc singled to left, took second on a fielding error and advanced on a groundout before racing home on Marnell’s base hit to right, giving the hosts the requisite 10-run cushion.

Hartman, Smith and Roy finished with two hits apiece for the Cougars in the loss.

San Diego State continues its series against Washington State on Saturday, March 14, starting at 5 p.m. PT.