Aztecs Rally Past Fresno State, 8-5, for Sixth Straight Victory
San Diego State continued its hot hitting on Saturday, as the Aztecs smacked four home runs in an 8-5 triumph over Fresno State in the second game of a Mountain West weekend series in Fresno, California.
FRESNO, Calif. – San Diego State continued its hot hitting on Saturday, as the Aztecs smacked four home runs in an 8-5 triumph over Fresno State in the second game of a Mountain West weekend series on Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
SDSU (25-18, 9-5 MW) banged out 16 hits for the day to help secure a series victory and extend its winning streak to six consecutive games.
Jake Jackson (3-for-4) belted a two-run homer in the fourth, while Tyce Peterson (2-for-5) launched a three-run bomb in the fifth to help the Aztecs offset a four-run outburst by the Bulldogs (12-27-1, 1-12-1 MW) in the bottom of the fourth.
In addition, Jabin Trosky (2-for-4) and Max Farrell contributed solo shots in the ninth for some added insurance.
Eight of SDSU’s nine position starters scored one run, as the top five players in the team’s batting order combined to hit .522 (12-23) with seven RBIs.
Jackson and Peterson topped the Aztecs with three RBIs each, while Dawson Santana (3) and Zach Justice (2) finished with multiple hits as well.
Not to be outdone, SDSU received a stellar relief performance from Bryce McKnight, who improved to 5-0 on the year after scattering three hits and one walk with a career-high eight strikeouts in five scoreless innings.
The Aztecs opened the scoring after four consecutive singles in the top of the third, as Jackson plated Anthony Marnell IV with a base hit through the left side.
Fresno State answered in the bottom half of the inning on Marcus Nolen’s leadoff home run, knotting the score at 1-1.
SDSU grabbed a 3-1 lead in the fourth when Jackson blasted a 1-2 pitch from Bulldog starter Tyler Patrick high over the left field fence, knocking in Santana, who previously reached on a two-out single and took third on a failed pickoff attempt.
Fresno State would not go quietly, however, as the host school scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Nolen homered for the second time in the contest, driving in Zach Plasschaert, who led off with a double. Shortly thereafter, Sky Collins cracked a solo shot, while Mikey Pickett followed with a single down the right field line and promptly stole second. Jett Ruby was subsequently hit by a pitch, spelling the end of starter Drew Talavs’ stint.
Although Pickett advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and eventually scored, McKnight minimized the damage when Owen Faust grounded into a double play and Mikey Boyd struck out to end the inning.
Suddenly facing a 5-3 deficit, the Aztecs flashed their trademark resilience when Peterson cranked a three-run homer to the corner in left field off reliever Weston Thornbury (0-1), plating Adam Magpoc and Zane Kelly to put the Scarlet and Black in front for good at 6-5. Earlier, Magpoc and Kelly drew walks from Doug Crystal to lead off the inning.
With his deep shot, Peterson now has 12 home runs on the year, tying for the most by an Aztec player since Jordan Verdon in 2018.
In the previous inning, Peterson was robbed of another home run when Nolen made a leaping catch over the fence on a deep fly ball to right.
The Bulldogs mounted their last serious threat in the eighth when Faust and Ryan De La Maza reached on singles, sandwiched around a Boyd strikeout and Ethan Payne’s pop fly. After De La Maza stole second, however, McKnight fought himself off the proverbial ropes with a swinging strikeout of Plasschaert.
SDSU gave itself some separation in the ninth on consecutive long balls by Trosky and Farrell off BJ Rodriguez. Trosky went yard for his first home run in a Scarlet and Black uniform, while Farrell launched his sixth bomb of the season.
McKnight returned for the ninth, posting consecutive strikeouts of Nolen and Collins before receiving a game-ending lineout from Ruby following Pickett’s single through the left side.
Pickett led Fresno State with three hits, while Nolen had three RBIs in the loss.
San Diego State will be looking to sweep the Bulldogs on Sunday when the teams collide in the series finale, starting at 1:05 p.m. PT. The contest will air live on the Mountain West Network.