Stirring Comeback Lifts Aztecs to Championship Round at MW Tourney

 

MESA, Ariz. – Top-seeded San Diego State completed a comeback for the ages on Saturday night with a riveting 11-8 victory over third-seeded Air Force in an elimination game at the 2026 Mountain West Championship at Sloan Park.

The Aztecs (35-23) scored 10 unanswered runs against the Falcons to clinch a spot in the championship round on Sunday, where they will face No. 2 seed Washington State, starting at 12:05 p.m. PT. Should SDSU emerge triumphant in that contest, the same teams will battle later in the afternoon for the MW tournament crown and the league’s automatic bid to NCAA regional competition.

Earlier on Saturday, the Cougars handed the Aztecs their first defeat of the weekend, prevailing in a wild 14-9 ballgame, while Air Force recorded an 11-1 run-rule victory over New Mexico, setting up an elimination game with SDSU.

The Aztecs found themselves on the wrong side of an 8-1 score after the Falcons (27-28) tallied three markers in the top of the fifth on a two-run double by Landon Boyd and an RBI triple by Ben Niednagel.

However, the Scarlet and Black erupted for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the inning to seize momentum. Jabin Trosky provided the big stick with a three-run bomb to left field, while Adam Magpoc and Zane Kelly followed with RBI singles, trimming the deficit to 8-6.

SDSU tied the game in the seventh when Max Farrell doubled home Jake Jackson, who drew a leadoff walk, while Magpoc’s ensuing sacrifice fly plated Zach Justice, who previously singled.

The Aztec surge continued in the eighth, where Jackson drove in Gage Adams and Dawson Santana with the go-ahead runs courtesy of a towering double to right-center before racing home on Justice’s single through the left side shortly thereafter, which the Scarlet and Black its eventual 11-8 margin of victory.

Jake Frohn (2-3) picked up the win after tossing the final 3 2/3 innings when he allowed one run on three hits and zero walks to go with five strikeouts, while Sam Hentges (2-1) was charged with the loss after yielding four runs on two hits and a pair of walks in just 1 2/3 innings pitched.

Justice led the Aztecs with three hits, while Jackson and Farrell finished with two apiece in the victory. The Falcons, who led the conference in stolen bases during the 2026 campaign, had their running game stymied on Saturday, as Justice threw out three would-be base stealers.

Against Washington State (29-25) earlier in the day, SDSU raced to a 5-0 lead on four hits and one error in the bottom of the first, highlighted by Justice’s two-run single to right after Santana drew a leadoff walk and Jackson doubled down the left-field line.

However, the Aztecs were unable to keep pace with the Cougars, who completed all of their scoring over the next three frames, including an eight-run outburst in the second when they sent 11 men to the plate, capped by Dustin Robinson’s two-run homer.

SDSU narrowed the gap to 8-7 in the bottom of the inning on Magpoc’s two-run double to right center but could not reclaim the upper hand.

WSU gradually extended its advantage over the next two frames, thanks in large part to Gavin Roy, who laced a pair of two-run singles in the third and fourth to finish with a game-high five RBIs. The Cougars also received a run-scoring single from Kyler Northrup in the fourth, while Ollie Obenour raced home on a wild pitch.

Trailing 14-7, the Aztecs plated just two more markers the rest of the way on Magpoc’s RBI single in the fourth, while Farrell crossed the plate on a wild pitch in the ninth.

Magpoc tied his career high with four RBIs against WSU to highlight a 3-for-5 performance at the plate, while Jackson, Justice and Trosky collected two hits apiece as well for the Scarlet and Black.

Luke Meyers (4-4), the Cougars’ third pitcher of the day, gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings but posted seven strikeouts on his way to the victory, while Bryce McKnight (5-2) was saddled with the loss in an abbreviated two-inning start.

WSU maintained an 18-13 advantage in hits, as the teams combined to strand 21 baserunners for the contest.

The pitching trio of Issac Araiza (0.2 IP), Evan Miranda (3.0 IP) and Connor Shaw (2.0 IP, 3K) each completed scoreless relief appearances to close out the game for SDSU.