The San Diego State Aztecs returned to the Mesa for the last game of their series against the Washington State Cougars, 1-1, and left with another win in the books.
Despite racking up 15 runs, the battle was far from easy. The Cougars struck first in the first inning, taking a 2-run lead thanks to a double from Dustin Robinson (2 RBI). The Aztecs were quick to fire back, and CF Drew Rutter’s 2-RBI single tied up the match.
First baseman Max Farrell showed why he was named Mountain West Preseason Rookie of the Year as he took to the plate following Jabin Trosky’s single to load the bases. It was 1:36 and Farrell ordered the Denny’s Grand Slam, and it came out piping hot—the freshman sent the ball soaring out past left field, and Zane Kelly, Rutter and Trosky joined Farrell across home plate to put the Aztecs up 2-6.
“It was nice to be able to pick my team up in a big spot,” Farrell said. “Yesterday, I left more runners on than I’d like, so just being able to cash in for the team was an awesome feeling.”
Top 3rd: The Cougars scratched at the lead with a run in the third, but a pitching change didn’t spare them from the Aztecs’ lineup. Rutter and Trosky put their at-bats on the line and pulled out back-to-back sacrifice bunts in the bottom of the third, earning 1RBI apiece and adding 2 runs to the tally, 3-8.
The early stock of runs made it look like it might be a breezy win for the Aztecs, but while getting on the board wasn’t a problem, keeping Washington off proved a steeper challenge.
“It’s a Sunday classic, a lot of games happen like that,” head coach Kevin Vance said. “Obviously, we’d like to make it a little bit cleaner and easier for ourselves, but we did what we needed to do.”
The Cougars found a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings consecutively. Aztec’s starting pitcher, Alec Belardes, did well to keep each inning to one run and ended with 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER and 4 Ks.
The Aztecs had a tough top of the sixth after dipping into the bullpen with Evan Miranda (2 ER) and Isaac Araiza (1ER). Washington’s [WHO] careened into backstop Zach Justice on his way to the plate, and the initial safe call was met with a challenge from the Aztecs’ dugout and copious jeers from the home crowd.
The Aztecs won the challenge but not the inning, and Washington’s Max Hartman followed up the controversy with a double to right field that added the Cougars’ third run of the inning. Three runs for the Cougars evened the score at 8-8.
San Diego didn’t back down. “If they punched at us, we punched back,” Vance said.
Designated hitter Anthony Marnell IV kick-started the sixth-inning comeback with a single that sent Tyce Peterson to the plate. Dawson Santana kept up the momentum, reaching base on a fielder’s choice and allowing Justice (who walked earlier) to make it 8-10, Aztecs.
Carson Johnson, who has been a starter this season, went back to his roots and was brought out as a reliever in the seventh.
“I’ve had him in Arizona as a reliever as well,” Vance said. “So I knew he could do it, and he’s ready to go for what the team needs.”
Johnson powered through to shut out the Cougars the first time since the top of the second, allowing just one hit in the inning.
San Diego State kept it moving in the bottom of the seventh. Stolen bases from Farrell and Peterson, walks for Justice and Trosky and hits from Peterson, Magpoc, Marnell and Santana set the Aztecs up for a 5-run haul. The inning ended in a pickle for Santana, who got caught between first and second, but he spared enough time for the Aztecs to secure the 8-15 lead.
“If you ride the emotions, it’ll take you on a roller coaster, especially in a game like today,” Farrell said. “So I think being able to be level-headed will give you a big advantage in games like these.”
Washington made it nine in the 8th, and 10 in the 9th, but they couldn’t catch up to the Aztecs. Johnson struck out the Cougar’s final batter and clinched his first save of the season, ending at 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER and 1 K.
Rutter (3-4 with 3 RBI) and Marnell (4-5 and 2 RBI) had impressive games, with both having their best offensive performances of the season so far.
The Aztecs next face California competition, travelling a couple of hours north to face the University of Southern California Trojans on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:30 P.M.
