Aztecs Complete Weekend Sweep of Air Force with 12-9 Comeback Victory

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State put the finishing touches on a weekend sweep of Air Force Saturday with a 12-9 victory in the finale of a crucial three-game Mountain West series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs (18-15, 7-2 MW) combined for eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a 7-2 deficit and maintain their grip of first place in the conference standings, one full game ahead of idle Nevada (17-10, 6-3 MW), while the Falcons (11-18, 5-4 MW) slip to fourth in the MW race.

Eight batters in the SDSU starting lineup recorded at least one hit and one RBI, as the Scarlet and Black maintained a 14-11 edge in hits for the afternoon.

Zach Justice and Dawson Santana tied for team-high honors with three hits each, while Adam Magpoc and Max Farrell topped the squad with three RBIs apiece.

The Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of a 7-2 score before kick-starting their rally in the fifth on Magpoc’s two-run single, which plated Justice and Jake Jackson. Previously, Justice led off with a single to left, while Jackson followed with a one-out double to the gap in left center.

After sending 10 men to the plate in the sixth, SDSU erupted for six runs on just four hits, capitalizing on two walks and a hit batter to take the lead for good.

Zane Kelly ignited the blitz with his third homer of the season, a two-run shot to right center that brought home Santana, whose earlier hot smash careened off the pitcher’s glove and into center field.

Davis Rhyne replaced Richard Rutledge on the mound at this juncture, and Jabin Trosky fought through an eight-pitch at-bat against the new Air Force reliever with a double to left before Tyce Peterson drew a two-out walk, while Jackson was struck by a pitch to load the bases.

Joey Collier was summoned from the bullpen at this juncture but kept adding fuel to the proverbial fire with a four-pitch walk to Magpoc, forcing in Trosky with another run.

Moments later, Farrell cranked a 2-1 pitch off the wall in right for a bases-clearing triple, giving the Aztecs a sudden 10-7 advantage.

The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 10-9 in the top of the seventh on consecutive RBI doubles by Wyatt Hanoian and Luke Elmore, who advanced to third on his hit after a fielding error in the left field corner.

However, Bryce McKnight, SDSU’s third reliever of the game, struck out Tripp Garrish and induced a pop foul by pinch hitter Garrett Hutchins before T.J. Ostler grounded out to short, preventing the tying run from crossing the plate.

Unfazed, the Aztecs picked up some much-needed insurance with two outs in the bottom of the frame on Justice’s RBI double and Peterson’s run-scoring single, restoring the host school’s three-run cushion at 12-9.

Issac Araiza retired the side in the eighth, featuring consecutive strikeouts of Van Klein and Kayden Bradshaw, but the SDSU senior right-hander endured some anxious moments in the ninth after issuing a leadoff walk to Ben Niednagel, while Hanoian followed with a single through the right side.

However, Araiza displayed his resolve with strikeouts of Elmore and Brooks Burdine, sandwiched around a Garrish flyout, much to the delight of the sun-soaked Aztec faithful.

Despite allowing two runs in the seventh, McKnight (3-0) earned his third victory of the year, posting three strikeouts in two innings, while Araiza fanned a season-high four hitters en route to his first save of the 2026 campaign. Conversely, Rhyne (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Air Force starter Jordan Watkins kept the Scarlet and Black off the scoreboard for the first three innings but was charged with the two runs on Santana’s one-out single in the fourth before yielding to Rutledge.

In the interim, the Falcons broke out on top with a single marker in the second on an inning-ending stolen base attempt, as Oster crossed the plate from third before Landon Boyd was tagged out in a run-down just short of second.

Then in the third, Hanoian belted a two-run homer with two outs, knocking in Klein, who led off with a double.

SDSU trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in fourth when Santana brought home Magpoc and Farrell with a two-run single. Previously, Magpoc led off with a walk, while Farrell was hit by a pitch, with both runners advancing on Anthony Marnell IV’s sacrifice bunt.

The pesky Falcons temporarily added to the Aztecs’ frustration with four runs on four hits in the fifth to grab a 7-2 lead. Air Force alternated fielder’s choice RBIs by Elmore and Blake Campbell with run-scoring singles by Garrish and Oster, setting the stage for SDSU’s later heroics.

San Diego State closes out its homestand on Tuesday, April 7, when it plays host to UC Riverside in a midweek clash, starting at 6 p.m. PT.