Aztecs Rally Past New Mexico in MW Tourney Opener, 11-6

MESA, Ariz. – Top-seeded San Diego State took a big step in its pursuit of a conference tournament title with an 11-6 come-from-behind victory over No. 5 seed New Mexico in its opening game of the 2026 Mountain West Championship at Sloan Park.

The Aztecs (34-22) overcame a 5-0 deficit with 10 straight runs between the fourth and sixth innings to advance in the winner’s bracket, where they will face either No. 2 seed Washington State or third-seeded Air Force on Saturday, May 23 at 1:05 p.m. PDT.  The Cougars and Falcons were meeting on Friday night at press time.

Zane Kelly sparked SDSU’s rally with a three-run double, while Adam Magpoc and Max Farrell finished with three hits and three RBIs apiece. Not be outdone, newly minted MW Player of the Year Jake Jackson collected three hits of his own and scored a run to help send the Lobos (29-23-1) into the elimination bracket.

Issac Araiza (3-0) tossed a scoreless fifth inning in relief of starter Rohan Lettow, offsetting two walks with a pair of strikeouts to earn the victory, while Aidan Russell pitched the rest of the way, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts to notch his fifth save of the season.

Trailing 5-0, the Aztecs began to claw their way back into contention the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases on a Farrell single to right, Peterson’s double deep off the center field wall and a walk to Anthony Marnell IV. Moments later, Kelly drove a 2-1 pitch from UNM starter Christian Mogan into the right-field corner for a stand-up double, plating all three runners to narrow the gap to 5-3.

Magpoc followed with his second homer of the season in the fifth, launching a two-run bomb to the berm above the right-center field fence on a 2-2 offering from reliever Ty Cunningham, bringing in Jabin Trosky, who drew a walk sandwiched between a strikeout and a flyout. Shortly thereafter, Peterson went yard for his 14th round-tripper of the year, crushing a 3-2 pitch to left, putting the Scarlet and Black in front for good, 6-5.

The Aztecs gave themselves some breathing room in the sixth, scoring four runs with two outs off Luke Wiseman to build a 10-5 cushion. Jackson threaded a one-out single to right and stole second, while Zach Justice drew a walk, as both runners advanced on Trosky’s sacrifice bunt.

Farrell then stepped to the plate and ripped his fifth triple of the year, knocking in Jackson and Justice, while Magpoc followed with a double down the left-field line, racing home moments later on Peterson’s single to right.

UNM broke its offensive drought in the seventh when Lenny Junior Ashby was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Karsen Waslefsky’s fielder’s choice. 

However, the  Lobos were unable to draw closer, as SDSU tacked on another run in the eighth when Farrell singled home Trosky, who previously reached on a base hit to right and took second on a fielding error before stealing third.

UNM grabbed the early lead in the second after consecutive doubles by Brodey Williams and Antonio Gianni before adding two markers in third courtesy of the same two batters. Williams singled home Luke Mansy, who led off with double, while Ashby was struck by a pitch and eventually crossed the plate on Gianni’s fielder’s choice to third.

The Lobos increased their advantage to 5-0 in the top of the fourth when Khalil Walker doubled and scored on a single by Mansy, who promptly stole second and raced home on Ashby’s base hit to shallow right.

Mansy led New Mexico with three hits, while Williams collected two hits of his own in the loss.

TOURNAMENT NOTES
San Diego State improves to 52-36 in all-time Mountain West tournament games.

SDSU’s 11 runs on Friday marks its highest total since posting a 14-5 victory over UNLV to win the 2018 championship at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs raise their record to 11-0 when scoring 10 or more runs this season.

SDSU moves to 27-3 this year when leading after six innings.

With their two long-balls today, the Aztecs have 58 home runs for the season, marking the team's second-highest total since 2001 after the 2017 squad went yard on 62 occasions.

Jake Jackson extends his hitting streak to eight straight games and has reached base safely in 21 consecutive starts.