Aztecs Claim Series Victory after Prevailing in 15-10 Slugfest vs. WSU

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State captured a series victory over Washington State in its first weekend of Mountain West play after posting a wild 15-10 victory in the rubber game between the two squads on Sunday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs set season highs with 15 runs and 19 hits to raise their record to 11-9 on the season and 2-1 in conference action, while the Cougars drop to 7-11 overall and 1-2 in the MW.

Facing an 8-2 deficit, WSU rallied to tie contest with a three-run sixth inning; however, the Scarlet and Black plated two markers in the bottom of the frame before breaking open the contest with five tallies in the seventh.

Max Farrell gave SDSU a spark in the second with his first career grand slam, while Anthony Marnell IV collected a collegiate-best four hits (4-for-5) and finished with two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the sixth.

Not to be outdone, Drew Rutter set a career high with three RBIs, breaking out of season-long slump with three hits (3-for-4) to match his collegiate best, while Adam Magpoc totaled three hits as well.

Despite giving up one run on one hit and one walk in his lone inning of work in the sixth, Issac Araiza (1-0) picked up his first victory of the season in relief of starter Alec Belardes, who ceded five runs on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in the first five frames of the contest.

In addition, Carson Johnson earned his first career save after tossing the final three innings, posting three strikeouts to help offset two runs on four hits and walk.

The Aztecs spotted the Cougars two runs in the first when Dustin Robinson doubled home Gavin Roy and Matt Priest with two outs.

Stung, the Scarlet and Black stormed back with six runs on seven hits in the second off WSU starter Griffin Smith. SDSU loaded the bases with one out, as Marnell doubled to left and Dawson Santana singled to right, while Zane Kelly was struck by a pitch.

Moments later, Rutter singled home Marnell and Santana, while Jabin Trosky followed with a base hit through the left side to keep the bases jammed.

Shortly thereafter, Farrell stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-1 offering from Smith over the left-field fence to give the Aztecs a sudden 6-2 advantage.

The Cougars plated a run in the third when Max Hartman lifted a two-out single and later scored on a wild pitch.

However, SDSU showed its aggressiveness on the basepaths in the bottom half of the inning when Santana and Kelly scored from third on consecutive squeeze bunts, giving the host school an 8-3 cushion.

WSU kept chipping away at the deficit, however, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth before putting up a three-spot in the top of the sixth to tie the contest. Hartman capped the rally with a two-out double after Dane Chavez raced home on a passed ball.

With the score knotted at 8-8, the Aztecs wasted no time in breaking the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth when Marnell knocked in Tyce Peterson with a single to right, while Zach Justice crossed the plate on Santana’s fielder’s choice grounder to short. Cougar reliever Gavin Derr (0-2) started the inning but faced just two batters after walking Peterson and Justice on a combined nine pitches, eventually absorbing the loss.

Back in front by a 10-8 margin, SDSU essentially put the contest out of reach with five runs on four hits off relievers Trevor Stowe and Erik Rodriguez. The hit parade continued for the Scarlet and Black, as Peterson, Magpoc and Marnell all delivered RBI singles, while Justice raced home on another fielder’s choice grounder by Santana. Shortly thereafter, Magpoc closed out the scoring for the Aztecs with a steal of home.

WSU later accounted for the game’s final margin on RBI doubles by Roy and Ryan Skjonsby in the eighth and ninth, respectively.

Along with Marnell, Rutter and Magpoc, SDSU also received two hits apiece from Trosky, Farrell and Peterson, while Roy (3 runs), Skjonsby and Hartman each finished with a pair of hits for the Cougars in the loss.

Collectively, the Aztecs were 8-for-10 on the day (.800) with runners on third and less than two outs.

San Diego State will be back in action on Tuesday, March 17 when it faces No. 20/25 USC at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles, California.