San Diego State transitions away from hoops to the diamond as they immerse themselves in pre-season games.
Presently the Aztecs are 12-13 as they head into a contest against UC Irvine from Tony Gwynn Field.
Early season highlights include wins at UCLA and Washington and Washington State.
Last weekend, the Aztecs travelled to San Jose to play in a round-robin tournament with the Spartans and the University of Connecticut. Both of the games against San Jose State are considered as non-conference game.
Friday’s game against San Jose State at Excite Ballpark found the Aztecs on the short end of a 3-2 decision that went 11 innings. The Aztecs jumped out early when Dawsoh Santana scored after a fielder’s choice, a groundout and back to back wild pitches by Spartan pitcher Jesse Gutierrez. The Aztecs added another run in the third with 3rd baseman Tyce Peterson ripping a triple to right field and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Zach Justice. The Spartans threatened on several occasions, but Aztec starter Rohan Lettow set the Spartans down with key plays and strikeouts. The Aztecs showed their aggression on the base paths with a double steal with Jabin Trosky and Max Farrell advancing. This was short lived as Trosky was thrown out at home and Adam Magpoc grounded into a fielder’s choice after that. Entering the bottom of the 7th, the Spartans fought back with Jake McCoy scoring ahead of a two-run home run by Brent Cota. The Aztecs threatened in the 9th, 10th and 11th innings putting runners on, but were unable to push across the potential winning run. This left the Spartans and McCoy playing the hero on a single to right, scoring Peyton Rowles for the game winner. Aztec reliever Jake Frohn took the lose, dropping to 0-2 on the season. Caden Duke got the win for the Spartans. He is now 2-0.
The next game featured the front end of a doubleheader, with the Aztecs taking on UConn. This is the same UConn school that beat the Aztecs for the NCAA basketball finals in 2023. The Aztecs were susceptible to the Huskies longball as Chris Polemeni, Peyton Jamison and Gabriel Tirado all homered for UConn. The Aztecs put up a 3 run bottom of the first using small ball for the score. Jabin Trosky and Max Farrell walked, and Tyce Peterson reached on a throwing error, scoring Trosky. Zach Justice followed with a single to center, scoring Farrell. Justice would then score on Dawson Santana’s sac fly. With the score tied at 4 in the eighth, Peterson doubled home Trosky. Peterson then sprinted home on Zach Justice’s single giving the Aztecs a comfortable 6-4 lead. This score would hold on with Aidan Russell getting the win on 4 innings pitched. The Aztec offense was paced by Zach Justice with 3 hits and Tyce Peterson, Zane Kelly and Jake Jackson adding two more.
The Aztecs would play the Spartans in the nightcap and just like the evening before, the game would be decided in extra innings, with the Spartans winning 9-8 in ten innings. The Aztec hitters were hot, putting up a three spot to start the game. Jake Jackson haD three hits for the game. Tyce Peterson, Adam Magpoc and Max Farrell all finished with two hits apiece. San Jose State countered with three runs themselves. The Spartans continued to add runs, scoring one in the 2nd inning and two in the third and the 8th, taking an 8-4 lead heading into the 9th inning. Enter the 9th inning and the Aztecs would score four runs to tie. Scoring with two outs, they scored four runs on two hits, two walks, two hit batters and one wild pitch off Spartan reliever Tyler Albanese. The Aztecs would put two on base in the 10th, but the Spartans turned a timely double play to end the top of the inning. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Brent Cota would lead off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice. Alan Ramirez would then walk. Cota would score from second on a Rohne Klein single to right. Cota barely avoided a tag, swinging around the swipe attempt by catcher Gage Adams. Simon Lemke would take the loss after entering the game in the 10th inning. Peter Herrick would get the win for the Spartans.
The final game on Sunday matched the Aztecs again with UConn. The Aztecs would drop the last of the four games in San Jose, 7-5. Again it was the Huskies powerful bats that sent the Aztecs to defeat. Tyler Minick hit two home runs and Cam Righi added one more. Jake Jackson would add a four-bagger of his own in the second, giving the Aztecs a 1-0 lead. The Huskies would build leads of 3-1 and 5-4, but the Aztecs were unable to push across the lead runs. The second of Minick’s homers would put Uconn up 7-4. The Aztecs would plate one more run when Tuyce Peterson scored on a ground out. The Aztecs loaded the bases, but Zach Justice was thrown out at the plate. U
Conn pitcher Charlie Hale, would give up a single in the 9th and then strike out three in a row to get his first save of the season. Oliver Pudvar would get the win for UConn while Alec Belardes would suffer the loss.
Preseason is a time for exploration while the team prepares for conference play. They will have one game against the Anteaters before they begin Mountain West play in Phoenix when they open against Grand Canyon. Other games of note are against Arizona State in Tempe, home against UC Riverside and UC San Diego, on the road against Seattle and at Northridge. At this point, the Aztecs are led by Jabin Trosky, Jake Jackson and Tyce Peterson from the plate. On the mound, Rohan Lettow has a 3-0 record and Bryce McKnight, Drew Talavs and Alec Belardes all have victories as starters. Stay tuned for more Aztec diamond action.
