Peterson's Smash Lifts Aztecs Past Saint Mary's, 3-2

SAN DIEGO – For the second straight game, San Diego State conjured up some late-inning magic, as Tyce Peterson’s two-run homer in the eighth provided the winning margin in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Saint Mary’s on Friday in the opener of a weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Peterson drove in all three runs, including an RBI double with one out in the first, helping the Aztecs raise their record to 9-5, which marks their best start to a season since the 2021 squad went 10-4 to open the year.

Reigning Mountain West Pitcher of the Week Aidan Russell (2-0) picked up the win in another superb relief effort, limiting the Gaels (8-5) to one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless innings when he matched his career high with six strikeouts against zero walks.

Both teams capitalized on each other’s errors in the first inning.

Saint Mary’s put two runners aboard in the top of the frame, as Makoa Sniffen drew a two-out walk after Jacob Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice. Moments later, Diego Castellanos doubled to left field, driving in Johnson, while an errant throw back to the infield allowed Sniffen to score from first.

The Scarlet and Black responded with a single marker in its first trip to the plate, as Jabin Trosky reached on fielding error and advanced on Max Farrell’s single before racing home on Peterson’s double down the right-field line.

SDSU starter Rohan Lettow tossed 4 2/3 innings, yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks with four strikeouts.

The Aztec right-hander ran into trouble in the fifth when the Gaels loaded the bases after Brady Petit was struck by a pitch and Sniffen singled followed by a wild pitch and a walk to Castellanos.

Russell took the mound at this juncture and threw just one pitch to Ian Armstrong, whose hot smash was snared by a diving Trosky at shortstop to keep the deficit at 2-1.

SDSU stranded a runner at second in both the fifth and sixth off SMC starter John Damozonio, who gave up just one unearned run on six hits without a walk in six innings while fanning five batters.

Reliever Talin Gardini retired the Aztecs in order in the seventh, but Trosky led off the eighth with a single to right field, keeping the Scarlet and Black’s comeback hopes alive.

After a flyout, Peterson stole the spotlight by crushing a 3-2 delivery from Gardini (0-1) over the fence in deep left center, as the celebratory light show consumed Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Russell promptly struck out Tanner Griffith to begin the ninth; however, Petit reached on a fielding error, taking second on the play to throw one last scare into SDSU’s anticipated postgame festivities.

Unfazed, Russell fanned Johnson on three straight pitches before inducing a flyout to Sniffen on the first offering, much to the delight of the Aztec faithful.

Peterson, Trosky and Farrell finished with two hits apiece to lead the SDSU offense. Trosky owns the team lead with multiple hits in eight games.

With Lettow’s and Russell’s combined 10 strikeouts, the Aztecs improve to 8-3 this season when reaching the double-digit plateau in that statistic.

San Diego State resumes its series with Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT. The Aztecs are projected to start right-hander Drew Talavs (2-1), while the Gaels are expected to counter with lefty Cam Staton (1-1).