Aztecs Toppled by Saint Mary's in Series Finale, 9-6

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State was victimized by a five-run outburst in the fifth inning on Sunday, falling to visiting Saint Mary’s by a 9-6 count in the finale of a weekend series on a hot and windy afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

With the setback, the Aztecs slip to 9-7 on the season and 6-4 at home, while the Gaels captured the series victory, improving to 10-5 overall, including a 4-2 mark on the road.

Seven of SDSU’s nine position starters recorded a hit, including two by Jabin Trosky, who also scored a pair of runs, while Tyce Peterson finished with two RBIs.

Peterson’s double down the left-field line in the first gave the Aztecs the early lead, as Trosky, who reached on a leadoff single, motored around the bases.

Saint Mary’s later knotted the score in the third when Tanner Griffith drew a two-out walk and promptly raced home on Brady Petit’s triple into the left-field corner.

SDSU was primed for a big response in the bottom of the inning after drawing three consecutive walks off Gael starter Jake Hilton with two outs. However, the Aztecs could only muster one run after Max Farrell crossed the plate on Jake Jackson’s RBI single, as Hilton induced a pop up to second base to prevent further damage.

San Diego State nursed a slim 2-1 advantage into the fifth when SMC erupted for five runs on three hits, one walk and one error.

Brett Williams sparked the Gaels’ surge with a leadoff single through the left side and took second on a wild pitch before advancing to third when Cody Kashimoto reached on a throwing error during a bunt attempt.

With Kashimoto now on second, Griffith struck out, while Petit drew a four-pitch walk to chase Aztec starter Carson Johnson and load the bases. Moments later, Jacob Johnson lifted a single to shallow left field off reliever Alec Belardes before Makoa Sniffen launched a grand slam over the left-field fence on an 0-1 pitch, vaulting SMC in front for good at 6-2.

The Gaels added a single marker in the sixth when Ian Armstrong scored on Kashimoto’s sacrifice fly to give the visitors a 7-2 cushion. Previously, Armstrong led off with a walk and advanced on a wild pitch and stolen base.

Stung, the Aztecs chipped away at the deficit, scoring three runs on three hits in their half of the frame. Anthony Marnell IV ripped a leadoff single and advanced on a balk, while Adam Magpoc was hit by a pitch, as both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Trosky then drove in Marnell with a single behind the bag at second, while Magpoc stole third and raced home on Peterson’s sacrifice fly. Moments later, Trosky crossed the plate when Zach Justice threaded a single up the middle. However, Roberts fought himself off the proverbial ropes by inducing a flyout to end the inning.

SDSU narrowed the gap to 7-6 when Dawson Santana was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh and later scored on Magpoc’s two-out single behind the bag at second. However, the host school was unable to plate the equalizer after Magpoc stole second, as reliever Noah Waldeck received a groundout to end another threat.

Saint Mary’s gave itself some breathing room in the eighth on Armstrong’s solo homer, while Sniffen’s RBI double with one out in the ninth accounted for the game’s final margin.

The Aztecs put two runners aboard in their last at-bat, as Santana singled down the right-field line, while Marnell drew a walk. However, Luke Sarantos fanned Zane Kelly and Magpoc to preserve the win.

SDSU stranded 12 runners for the game, while the Gaels left eight men aboard.

Despite issuing six walks, Hilton (3-0) picked up his third win of the year after allowing two runs on two hits with four strikeouts in five innings, while Sarantos notched his first save of the season after yielding one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in two scoreless frames.

Hilton’s counterpart Carson Johnson (0-3) struck out five batters in 4 1/3 innings but absorbed the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks.

Along with Sniffen’s production (2 hits, 5 RBIs), Saint Mary’s received a game-high three hits from Jacob Johnson, while Petit finished with two hits of his own.

San Diego State returns to action on Tuesday, March 10, when it makes the short trip to Orange County for a midweek clash at Cal State Fullerton, starting at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs open their final Mountain West schedule with a three-game series against Washington State, March 13-15, at Tony Gwynn Stadium.