Aztecs Win 10th Straight with 8-5 Comeback Victory over Nevada
Red-hot San Diego State conjured up some more late-inning magic on Saturday, scoring four runs with two outs in the eighth to highlight an 8-5 comeback victory over Nevada in the second game of a Mountain West series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
SAN DIEGO – Red-hot San Diego State conjured up some more late-inning magic on Saturday, scoring four runs with two outs in the eighth to highlight an 8-5 comeback victory over Nevada in the second game of a Mountain West series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
With the win, the Aztecs (29-18, 12-5 MW) secured a series victory and extendeded their winning streak to 10 straight games, while improving to 18-5 at home this season.
In addition, SDSU maintained its grip on first place in the Mountain West, building a one-game lead over Washington State (25-21, 13-7 MW) and Air Force (22-22, 13-7 MW), both of which are tied for second, while the Wolf Pack (23-20, 12-8 MW) slipped into the fourth spot.
In a seesaw affair on Saturday, Nevada inched in front by a 5-4 margin in the top of the eighth when Jake Harvey doubled home Jackson Waller, who previously lifted a one-out single to shallow right field. The Wolf Pack threatened to add to their total after Metcho drew a walk, as both runners advanced on Rominic Quiban’s sacrifice bunt. However, Carson Johnson, who took the mound to start the inning, received a groundout from Jayce Dobie to avoid further damage.
Unfazed, the Aztecs met the moment once again, plating four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame.
Adam Magpoc sparked the rally with a one-out triple to the gap in right center, while Anthony Marnell IV drew a walk. Following a pop-foul, Andres Castro replaced fellow reliever Luke Schat on the hill, as Marnell promptly stole second. Shortly thereafter, Zane Kelly ripped a towering double to right center, driving in Magpoc and Marnell to give the Scarlet and Black a 6-5 advantage
Moments later, Dawson Santana singled into the hole at shortstop and promptly swiped second before Jackson plated both runners with a clutch hit to left center, increasing the Aztec lead to 8-5.
Johnson returned for the ninth and quickly retired the first two batters, as Mikey Cruz Jr. grounded out to second, while Junhyuk Kwon struck out swinging. Sean Yamaguchi followed with a single up the middle to keep Nevada’s faint comeback hopes alive, but Johnson induced a game-ending pop out by Jacob Doyle behind second, much to the delight of the Aztec faithful.
Johnson earned the victory, evening his record at 3-3 on the season, while Schat (1-1) absorbed the loss despite five strikeouts after allowing runs on two hits and one walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Eight of San Diego State’s nine position players recorded at least one hit, including two apiece by Kelly, Magpoc and Max Farrell.
Farrell gave the Aztecs the early lead with a two-run single in the first, knocking in Santana and Jabin Trosky. Previously, Santana drew a leadoff walk, while Trosky laced a single up the middle with two outs.
The Wolf Pack responded with a pair of markers in the third when Quiban homered off SDSU starter Drew Talavs with two outs, while Dobie followed with a single and ultimately scored on a wild pitch by reliever Bryce McKnight, tying the score at 2-2.
The teams traded runs in each of their trips to the plate in the fifth and sixth innings.
In the fifth, Quiban was hit by a pitch and later scored on Cruz’s sacrifice fly, while the Aztecs answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single by Zach Justice, which brought home Kelly, who previously reached on a base hit to center and advanced on a walk to Jackson.
Later in the sixth, Waller led off with a single and eventually scored from third on a passed ball before SDSU responded once again on Marnell’s RBI double. Earlier in the inning, Magpoc roped a one-out single and stole second before crossing the plate on Marnell’s big hit, which knotted the score at 4-4 and chased Nevada starter Ryan Oakes.
Oakes was tagged for four runs on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, while his Aztec counterpart Talavs pitched just 2 2/3 innings, yielding two runs on four hits and a pair of walks.
SDSU hit .429 (6-14) with two outs on Saturday, driving in seven of its eight runs in that situation.
San Diego State will look to complete a weekend sweep against Nevada when the two teams lock horns in the series finale on Sunday, May 3, starting at 1 p.m. PT. The Aztecs are scheduled to start Alec Belardes (3-3), while the Wolf Pack are expected to counter with Alessandro Castro (3-2).