Aztecs Pull Away for 9-5 Victory over Seattle U

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State won its third consecutive game after defeating Seattle University, 9-5, in a special Monday matinee at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs (22-18) finished with a 15-9 advantage in hits to move to 6-0 in the all-time series against the Redhawks (14-21), who suffered their second straight loss.

Jabin Trosky, Dawson Santana and Zane Kelly finished with two RBIs apiece, helping SDSU improve their home record to 15-5 on the season.

Trosky tied his career high with four hits, while Kelly added a solo home run for his fifth round-tripper of the year.

Despite allowing  two runs on six hits and a walk, Alec Belardes picked up the victory in 4 2/3 innings of relief, evening his record at 3-3 overall, while Jake Morrell (0-2), Seattle’s second of four pitchers, absorbed the loss.

With the score knotted at 3-3, the Aztecs vaulted in front for good with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. After roping a one-out single, Max Farrell circled the bases on a hustling double to right center by Trosky, who crossed the plate moments later on Reeve Boyd’s base hit to left.

The Redhawks narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the sixth when Hayden Carlson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing home Jacob Beauchaine, who led off with the first of three consecutive singles, followed by Ryder Manale and Tyler Jackson.

However, Belardes prevented further damage by inducing a 5-2-3 double play at the plate before Payton Knowles flied out to end the inning.

SDSU seemingly put the game out of reach at 9-4 after scoring four runs on four hits in the eighth. After Marc Emmerman’s sacrifice bunt, Tyce Peterson knocked in Gage Adams with a single to center, taking second on the throw before racing home on Santana’s double down the left field line. Following a pitching change, Santana stole third and promptly scored on a passed ball, while Jake Jackson drew a walk and eventually crossed the plate on Kelly’s sacrifice fly.

Seattle threw one last scare into the Aztecs in the top of the ninth after loading bases on walks to Knowles and Tyler Horner sandwiched around Kenny Rhein’s single up the middle. Reliever Issac Araiza struck out Royce Hale, but Beauchaine drew a walk to score Knowles from third, narrowing the gap.

However, Araiza flashed his resiliency by freezing Manale with a called third strike on a 3-2 pitch, while Tyler Jackson bounced into a fielder’s choice at shortstop to end the game, as the SDSU dugout erupted in jubilation.

The Aztecs utilized four pitchers on the day, including starter Drew Talavs, who struck out five batters in 2 1/3 innings, yielding two unearned runs on a pair of passed balls in the first and third.

Trailing 1-0, SDSU tied the game in their first at-bat when Trosky singled home Santana, who previously walked and advanced on Jackson’s base hit and Farrell’s fielder’s choice to third.

The Aztecs inched in front in the second on Santana’s RBI single, plating Adams, who beat out an infield hit to short, stole second and advanced on a throwing error.

After Seattle drew even once again in the third, Kelly hit a towering shot off the foul pole in right on an 0-1 pitch from Redhawk starter Camden Oram, giving the host school a 3-2 edge.

Then in the top of the fifth, the visitors tied the contest at 3-3 on Horner’s RBI groundout, with Jared Stevenson crossing the plate. Earlier, Stevenson and Knowles led off with consecutive singles before advancing on Rhein sacrifice bunt.

Morell (0-2) took the loss for Seattle after giving up the two go-ahead runs in the fifth. Knowles led the Redhawks with three hits in the loss.

Four Aztec pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts for the game, including two by Aidan Russell (1 BB), who pitched a scoreless eighth. SDSU is 14-5 this season when its pitching staff fans more than 10 batters.

San Diego State will be back in action on Tuesday, April 21 when it travels to the San Fernando Valley for a clash with CSUN at Robert J. Hiegert Field in Northridge, California. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. PT.