Big Innings Propel Aztecs Past Air Force, 9-2

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State opened its pivotal Mountain West series in style Thursday with a 9-2 triumph over Air Force at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

With the victory, the Aztecs (16-15) move into a tie for first place atop the conference standings with the Falcons (11-16) at 5-2 in league play.

SDSU plated four markers in a third-inning outburst, as Tyce Peterson and Jake Jackson belted consecutive home runs to put the Scarlet and Black in front for good.

In addition, the Aztecs received a stellar performance from pitchers Rohan Lettow, Connor Abadie, Issac Araiza and Evan Miranda, who joined forces on a four-hitter with a combined 14 strikeouts.

Lettow (4-1) collected his fourth win of the season after tying his career high with 10 strikeouts during a six-inning start when he surrendered just two unearned runs on two hits and four walks.

Air Force capitalized on a pair of SDSU errors in the top of the first, scoring two runs with two outs. However, the Aztecs responded with a two-out tally of their own on Adam Magpoc’s RBI single in the bottom of the frame, plating Jabin Trosky, who led off with a walk.

Facing a 2-1 deficit entering the third, Trosky reached on a throwing error and took second on Zach Justice’s sacrifice bunt before Peterson stepped to the plate and crushed a 1-1 pitch from Falcon starter Josh Holst deep over the center field fence that hit the base of the batter’s eye.

Moments later, Jackson went yard in nearly the same location, launching a 1-2 offering from Holst for his sixth round-tripper of the year, which ranks second on the team behind Peterson’s eight bombs.

SDSU’s hit parade continued when Magpoc roped a double to the corner in left and stole third before racing home on Max Farrell’s perfectly placed bunt single down the first base line, giving the Scarlet and Black a 5-2 advantage.

The score remained unchanged until the fifth when Zane Kelly uncorked a triple to the right field corner, knocking in Anthony Marnell IV and Dawson Santana, who previously singled and walked, respectively. Kelly soon crossed the plate on a wild pitch from reliever Gunner Gilmore, extending the Aztec lead to 8-2.

SDSU closed out the scoring in the seventh when Santana drew a lead-off walk and stole two bases before racing home on another Gilmore wild pitch.

After withstanding some misfortune in the first, Lettow allowed four baserunners for the rest of his stint on three walks and a fielding error but emerged unscathed.

Wyatt Hanoian drew a leadoff walk in the sixth, but Lettow induced a double-play ground ball by Tripp Garrish, while Luke Elmore followed with a ground to short, extinguishing the threat.

The Falcons put two runners aboard in the seven off Abadie when Blake Campbell singled to right and Van Klein doubled to the gap in right center. However, Abadie escaped danger after Kayden Bradshaw flied out to right.

After Araiza retired the side in the eighth, Elmore and Brooks Burdine drew walks off Miranda in the ninth before SDSU’s third reliever of the day regrouped and struck out Landon Boyd and Klein to end the game.

Holst (0-3) was tagged with the loss for Air Force after giving up five runs on five hits and three walks with a trio of strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.

San Diego State continues its series against the Falcons on Friday, April 3 with another 6 p.m. PT starting time.  The Aztecs are scheduled to start Drew Talavs (2-2), while Air Force is expected to counter with fellow right-hander Gaines Estridge (1-3).