What started as a Friday doubleheader turned into a two-day offensive slugfest, as San Diego State baseball split two decisions in the span of four hours with Northwestern University on Saturday afternoon to the tune of a 13-7 loss and a 15-10 win.
The win gives the Aztecs (4-11) three wins in their last four games, and their first series victory of the season.
SDSU’s offense experienced a revelatory output the whole weekend, and especially on Saturday.
Eight different Aztecs had at least one run, hit or rbi in the second game, and six Aztecs had one of each, during the 15-10 win on Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday alone, in 12.5 innings of play, the two teams combined for 34 runs, 17 for each team.
The Aztecs, after not reaching double digit runs on the season, saw it happen twice against Northwestern.
Alan Trejo talked about the change in offensive mindset that fueled the explosion this weekend.
“Early in the year, we were too passive,” Trejo said of his team’s hitters. “Now, our motive at the plate is just to swing the bat, and we’re doing a good job of that.”
A storm that came in the sixth inning of game two of the series on Friday afternoon suspended the contest until Saturday morning.
When the skies began to empty, SDSU was batting, trailing 6-4, with a baserunner on third.
The Aztecs were able to bring that runner, freshman third baseman, across home plate, closing the gap to 6-5.
Northwestern, however, brought on a downpour for themselves in the eighth inning, as seven runners made it across home against junior pitcher Marcus Reyes, who was making his third relief appearance of the season.
Two eighth inning runs softened the blow for SDSU, but the 13-7 deficit was too big to overcome.
But the Aztecs got their revenge in the second game of the day.
They fell behind early, as starter junior Brett Seeburger allowed four first-inning runs, but the Aztecs did not let the deficit get into their heads, as they have many times during this season.
SDSU scored two in the bottom of the first, one on a single by sophomore shortstop Alan Trejo, who went 4-5 with two rbis, raising his season average to .393.
After one more Wildcat run brought their lead to 5-2 in the fourth inning, the Aztecs unloaded for six runs in the bottom of the frame.
Freshman designated hitter Dean Nevarez, who harrassed Northwestern with six hits and six rbis during the series, cleared the bases with a double to right field, giving SDSU its first lead of the day at 6-5.
The Aztecs held an 8-5 lead by the time the inning ended, as each batter had at least one plate appearance in the frame.
And after a 3-run home run from sophomore third baseman Justin Wylie, his first of the year, SDSU held a 12-6 lead over the Wildcats.
Northwestern pushed back in the seventh inning, pulling together four runs to cut the deficit to two runs.
But three insurance runs for the Aztecs put the game, and the series, away.
Even in the series win, SDSU had some major pitching concerns as they allowed 29 runs in the 3-game set.
Head coach Mark Martinez talked about his team’s pitching after the games.
“We’ve been getting fairly good starting pitching,” head coach Mark Martinez said. “The biggest thing is our bullpen is not performing very well. We’ll have to evaluate it all and figure out what is best for the program.”
