Despite a season-high 13 hits, San Diego State University’s baseball team was unable to avoid a weekend sweep after UNLV rallied with six runs in the eighth inning to escape with a 10- 8 victory on Sunday in the series finale at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Aztecs, who saw their record slip to 4-11, 0-3 in Mountain West play, were led by Cole Carrigg, who matched his season highs with three hits and two RBI, while Brian Leonhardt (Eastlake) went yard for the second time this year with a two-run home run in the fourth inning that knotted the score at 4-4.
SDSU tallied two markers in the fifth to grab a 6-4 lead after Caden Miller scored on a wild pitch, while Tyler Glowacki (Santana) singled home Carrigg, who roped a base hit to right moments earlier and took second on a throw from the outfield. The Aztecs were seemingly in control at this juncture, as reliever Avery Jones retired the first six batters he faced before inducing an inning-ending double play in the seventh following a leadoff walk and a strikeout.
However, the momentum shifted abruptly when Jones yielded consecutive singles to Joey Walls and Edarian Williams to start the eighth. Jonny Guzman was summoned from the bullpen, but Eric Bigani greeted the SDSU hurler with a three-run homer on a 1-2 pitch, putting the visitors in front to stay.
In all, the Rebels (9-7, 3-0 MW) sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning as Diego Alarcon added a two-run double while Hank Zeisler followed with an RBI single to extend the margin to 10-6. The Aztecs quickly answered with two runs in their half of the eighth after pinch hitter Deron
Johnson (Poway) smoked a double of the top of the fence in rightcenter field, while Kenny LeBeau drew a walk. Nick Rupp took the mound and received a flyout from Miller; however, Carrigg stepped to the plate and smashed a double to deep center, driving in Johnson and LeBeau, which narrowed the gap to 10-8. Poncho Ruiz (Mater Dei Catholic) followed with a walk, but Rupp avoided further damage thanks to a pop foul near the bag at first.
SDSU had one last chance in the ninth when Glowacki walked and moved to second on Irvin Weems’ sacrifice. However, Rupp extinguished the threat by inducing a pop up and flyout for his second save of the season. Despite allowing the two Aztec runs in the eighth, Noah Beal (2- 0) was credited with the victory after giving up three hits and a walk in 3.0 innings of work. On the flip side, Guzman (0-2) took the loss after yielding Bigani’s blast in the top of the frame.
Series opener
SDSU dropped last Friday’s MW opener, 5-2, to UNLV, which parlayed some timely hitting to snare the series opening victory. The Rebels vaulted in front to stay in the top of the seventh inning by scoring two runs with two outs before blasting a pair of solo home runs in the eighth and ninth innings to provide some added insurance.
The Aztecs were limited to just five hits on the night with Carrigg and Johnny Giannola finishing with two apiece. The hosts opened the scoring in the first inning when Carrigg reached on an infield single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and promptly raced home on Giannola’s triple down the left-field line.
Making his first appearance of the 2022 campaign, Aztec starter Troy Melton posted four strikeouts against one walk in two scoreless innings. SDSU regained the lead in the sixth at 2-1 after Miller crossed the plate on Giannola’s double to left. Earlier, Miller led off with a walk and took second on Carrigg’s single before stealing third base. However, a potentially big inning fizzled for the Aztecs, as Carrigg was picked off first, while Giannola and Ruiz, who drew a walk, were left stranded at second and third bases, respectively. In the fateful seventh frame, the Rebels loaded the bases off T.J. Fondtain after Walls hit a leadoff single and stole second before Williams walked and Bigani was hit by a pitch.
Reliever Ricky Tibbett (Eastlake) entered and quickly struck out pinch hitters Austin Pfeifer and Jason Sharman. After tossing three straight balls, the Aztec right-hander worked the count full to Charles, who promptly roped the next pitch up the middle for the go-ahead RBIs.
Close call
The Aztecs coughed up a 3-0 lead in Saturday’s second game as the Rebels scored four unanswered runs over the final four frames. SDSU starting pitcher Kelena Sauer struck out a career-high nine batters but did not factor in the decision after going the first five innings while allowing one earned run. Ruiz had three hits and two RBI to lead the Aztecs’ nine-hit attack. Carrigg had two hits and scored twice while Ruiz scored once.
Preseason picks
The Aztecs were pegged for a third-place finish in the 2022 Mountain West preseason poll, as selected by the league’s seven head coaches. Also, Melton earned a spot on the preseason all-conference team.
