Aztecs Upended by Spartans, 9-4

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State saw its 13-game home winning streak snapped on Saturday after dropping a 9-4 decision to San José State in the second game of a Mountain West weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aztecs (31-20, 14-6 MW) also had their seven-game victory streak in conference play halted, as the Spartans (21-26, 8-12 MW) maintained a 10-5 advantage in hits, including a 3-2 edge in home runs.

Despite the setback, SDSU remains perched atop the MW standings, one-half game ahead of Washington State (27-23, 15-8 MW), which defeated Air Force on the road in run-rule fashion, 14-4, on Saturday. The Cougars and the Falcons wrap up their respective conference schedules on Sunday, while the Aztecs have four MW games left in the regular season.

Back on The Mesa, San Diego State was led by the duo of Jake Jackson (1 HR, 3 RBIs) and Max Farrell (1 HR), who collected two hits apiece, while the rest of the lineup was held largely in check.

Conversely, SJSU rode the bat of Neil Jansen (3 RBI, 3 R), who clubbed two home runs, while Alex Fernandes went deep with a two-run shot of his own. In addition, Rocco Caballero led all players with three hits while scoring a pair of runs.

The Spartans scored in five straight innings from the second through the sixth, as Jansen’s first long ball of the contest gave the visitors an early spark. Farrell answered for the Scarlet and Black in the bottom of the second with his seventh homer of the year, crushing a 1-0 pitch from SJSU starter Jesse Gutierrez over the left-field fence, knotting the score at 1-1.

However, the Spartans went ahead to stay on Fernandes’ two-run blast in the third, which plated Caballero, who led off the inning with a single to center. SDSU trimmed the margin to 3-2 in the bottom of the frame when Zane Kelly walked and ultimately scored on Jackson’s RBI double to left center, but the hosts could draw no closer.

SJSU tacked on two more runs in the fourth on Matteo Mendoza’s sacrifice fly and Caballero’s RBI infield single deep at third.

With momentum on their side, the Spartans increased their advantage in the fifth when Peyton Rowles led off with a single and later crossed the plate on Brent Cota’s fielder’s choice to second. Moments later, Jansen belted his second homer of the game, giving the visitors an 8-2 cushion.

SDSU seemed poised climb back into contention in the bottom of the same inning after Dawson Santana drew a two-out walk and Jackson followed with his team-leading 13th home run of the season, smacking the first offering from Gutierrez over the fence in left center, narrowing the gap to 8-4. Zach Justice roped a double to right shortly thereafter, but Gutierrez received a groundout to avoid further damage.

The Spartans closed out the scoring in the sixth when Caballero singled and later raced home on Rowles’ sacrifice fly.

Gutierrez (1-4) earned his first win of the year after giving up five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in five innings, while Luka Pintar retired the Aztecs in order over the final four frames to collect his first career save.

On the flip side, SDSU employed four pitchers during game, as Drew Talavs (3-4) absorbed the loss after yielding five runs on four hits with two walks with four strikeouts in three innings.

San Diego State wraps its series against San José State on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. PT. The Aztecs are scheduled to start Alec Belardes (3-3), while the Spartans are expected to counter with fellow right-hander Dylan Smith (3-3).

Prior to Sunday’s engagement, SDSU will hold a special Senior Day ceremony, celebrating the accomplishments of Connor Abadie, Gage Adams, Issac Araiza, Tyce Peterson and Aidan Russell.