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Aztecs combine for 14 runs in the seventh and eighth innings to complete sweep
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
April 2, 2023 (Albuquerque) - San Diego State erupted for 14 runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Sunday to defeat New Mexico, 19-7, in the finale of a three-game series at Santa Ana Star Field.
In a contest that was shortened to eight innings, the Aztecs (10-13, 7-3 MW) received three or more hits from five different players to notch their second straight sweep of UNM (15-11, 5-6 MW) in the Duke City and take over first place in the Mountain West standings.
Five different SDSU players totaled at least three hits, including Shaun Montoya, who tied his career high with a 4-for-6 performance at the plate and led all players with three runs scored, while TJ Fondtain and Brady Lavoie finished with four RBIs each.
After entering as a pinch hitter to lead off the fateful seventh, Lavoie completed three legs of a cycle, highlighted by a three-run homer for his first round-tripper in a Scarlet and Black uniform, while Poncho Ruiz and Tino Bethancourt collected three hits and scored two runs apiece.
The Aztecs employed six pitchers on the afternoon, with Eldridge Armstrong III (2-0) earning his second victory of the year after completing the final three frames without surrendering a run, tying his season high with four strikeouts against two hits and a walk.
SDSU raced to a 5-0 lead before the host school tallied seven unanswered runs in the middle innings to vault in front.
Following Jake Holland’s leadoff single in the fourth off Aztec starter Omar Serrano and Braydon Runion roped a double to left center, while Justin Olson stepped into the batter’s box and belted a three-run homer on a 1-2 delivery to pull the Lobos to within 5-3.
Olson added an RBI single in the fifth before UNM tallied three more markers in the sixth to build a 7-5 advantage. Konnor Kinkade drew a bases-load walk off Xavier Cardenas III, which plated Devon Dixon, while Sean Stephens raced home when Lenny Junior Ashby reached on a fielder’s choice.
Armstrong took the mound at this juncture and promptly struck out Holland before inducing a lineout to Runion, while Chase Weissenborn crossed the plate shortly thereafter on a wild pitch.
Any signs of a letdown quickly evaporated in the seventh, however, when the Aztecs sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs on eight hits, one walk and an error.
SDSU loaded the bases off UNM reliever Terrell Hudson at the start of the inning after Lavoie doubled, Evan Sipe walked, and Cade Martinez reached on a fielder’s choice. Moments later, Lavoie trotted home on Caden Miller’s base hit to right, while Fondtain followed with a two-run single up the middle to put the visitors in front for good.
Hudson yielded to Justin Still, but the new Lobo pitcher was ineffective as well, as Montoya reached on a bunt single, while Miller and Fondtain came around to score on Ruiz’s single to left. Bethancourt’s base hit reloaded the bases before Xavier Gonzalez drove in Montoya and Ruiz with a double to left-center, which chased Still.
Lavoie then greeted reliever Adolfo Iturralde with a three-run blast over the center-field fence on a 2-1 pitch to put the Scarlet and Black firmly in control at 15-7.
The Aztecs’ hit parade continued into the eighth when Bethancourt, Gonzalez and Lavoie contributed consecutive RBI singles, while Sipe reached on a fielder’s choice, plating Gonzalez.
Serrano pitched three-plus innings for SDSU, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks against a trio of strikeouts, while his Lobo counterpart Issac Gallegos worked five frames, ceding five runs on nine hits and three walks to go with three strikeouts.
The Aztecs drew first blood in the second inning on Fondtain’s RBI single, while Martinez got aboard on a base hit and ultimately raced home on a double steal.
SDSU upped its lead to 5-0 in the fourth, scoring three runs on four consecutive hits with two outs. Miller singled to center and circled the bases on Fondtain’s double, while Montoya followed with a triple and quickly raced home on Ruiz’s single through the left side.
Olson’s four RBIs led the UNM side, while Runion topped his squad with three hits in the defeat.
The Aztecs’ 22 hits on Sunday marked their second-highest total of the season after compiling 25 in a 28-8 romp at UNLV on March 4.
San Diego State returns home for a midweek clash against UC Riverside on Tuesday, April 4, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
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