Aztecs Complete Weekend Sweep of Nevada with 11th Straight Victory

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State continued its winning ways on Sunday with an 8-2 triumph over Nevada to complete a three-game Mountain West series sweep at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

With the victory, the Aztecs (30-18, 13-5 MW) extend their winning streak to 11 straight games and maintain a one-game lead over second-place Air Force (23-22, 14-7 MW) in the conference standings.

In addition, SDSU reaches the 30-win plateau for the first time since the 2021 campaign and owns its longest victory streak since a 12-game stretch from Feb. 5-March 4, 1997.

Not to be outdone, the Aztecs recorded their first three-game sweep of the Wolf Pack since 2013.

On Sunday, San Diego State scored in four straight innings from the third through the sixth, highlighted by Zane Kelly’s towering three-run homer in the fourth following Adam Magpoc’s head-first slide at home plate on a double steal attempt.

Three Aztec pitchers combined on a four-hitter, including relievers Simon Lemke and Connor Abadie, who kept Nevada (23-21, 12-9) off the scoreboard for the final 4 1/3 innings.

Lemke (1-2) earned his first Division I victory after taking over for starter Alec Belardes with two outs in the fourth, offsetting one hit with a strikeout in 2 1/3 innings of work, while Abadie retired all six batters he faced.

SDSU opened the scoring in the third when freshman Nate Lopez led off with his first collegiate home run, belting a 1-1 pitch from Wolf Pack starter Alessandro Castro over the left-field fence.

Nevada took a brief 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth when Jake Harvey singled home Junhyuk Kwon and Sean Yamaguchi on a sharp grounder through the left side of the infield.

However, the Aztecs erupted for five runs on four hits and a walk in the bottom of the frame to vault in front for good. Max Farrell sparked the outburst with a one-out double to right center, plating Zach Justice, who led off with a two-bagger of his own.

Magpoc subsequently reached on a fielder’s choice and motored around to third on Reeve Boyd’s single through the right side. Moments later, SDSU pulled off a double steal, as Magpoc beat the throw home from short, while Lopez drew a walk. Kelly promptly stepped to the plate a crushed a 1-1 offering from Castro deep over the right-field fence for his ninth round-tripper of the year, giving the Scarlet and Black a 6-2 advantage.

The Aztecs added a run in the fifth when Jake Jackson drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced on Justice’s single to right before racing home on a double-play ground ball to second by Jabin Trosky.

SDSU tallied another marker in the sixth when Magpoc crossed the plate on Lopez’s fielder’s choice grounder up the middle to account for the final margin. Earlier, Magpoc singled to center and stole second, advancing to third on the play, courtesy of a throwing error by the catcher. Boyd followed with a walk but was erased at second on Lopez’s grounder up the middle that was snared by Kwon.

Castro (3-3) absorbed the loss for the Wolf Pack after surrendering seven runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts in four innings.

The Aztecs maintained an 8-4 advantage in hits, improving to 25-3 this season when outhitting the opposition. In addition, SDSU raised its record to 26-1 when leading after eight innings.

San Diego State returns to the diamond for its final non-conference game of the regular season when it makes the short drive across town to battle UC San Diego on Tuesday, May 5, starting at 6 p.m. PT.

The Aztecs then close off their home schedule, May 8-10, with a three-game Mountain West series against San José State at Tony Gwynn Stadium.