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Highlanders erupt for seven runs in second inning
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
February 28, 2024 (Riverside) - For the second straight game, San Diego State was undone by the big inning as host UC Riverside scored seven runs in the bottom of the second on Tuesday to fuel a 13-9 victory over the Aztecs at Riverside Sports Complex.
Playing its first road game of the 2024 campaign, SDSU (3-5) found itself in pursuit mode for the rest of the night after falling behind, 9-3, through two frames.
Reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Week Colby Turner maintained his hot bat, finishing with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. In addition, Jake Jackson and Jacob McCombs (2 hits) drove in a pair of runs apiece, while Shaun Montoya walked twice and scored two runs.
As a team, the Aztecs out-hit the Highlanders 12-11, but it wasn’t enough as a late rally fell short. With the loss, SDSU dropped its second straight contest, while UCR (4-5) put the brakes on a three-game slide.
SDSU also utilized nine pitchers on the night, with Chris Canavan, Issac Araiza and Garvey Rumary striking out three batters apiece. However, the Scarlet and Black was unable to contain the exploits of Cole Koniarsky, Jayden Lopez, Dominic Martinez and Zach Tallerman, who combined for 10 of the 11 Highlander hits and racked up three RBIs apiece.
The Aztecs jumped on the board with three markers in the first when Irvin Weems singled home Finley Bates and later scored on McCombs’ two-run double, which also plated Jackson, who previously walked.
Despite striking out the side in the home half of the inning, Canavan yielded two runs on three hits, as UCR trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on Lopez’s RBI double and Martinez’s run-scoring single to left.
Aidan Russell took the mound for SDSU to start the second but was lifted after facing five batters without recording an out. In the interim, the Highlanders loaded the bases when Tallerman led off with a single, while Tyler Martinez and Zachary Chamizo were struck by pitches. Moments later, Koniarsky drove in all three runners with double to right, while Lopez drew a walk.
Riordan replaced Russell but fared no better, as Koniarsky scored on Anthony Mata’s fielder’s choice grounder, while Martinez followed with a triple down the left-field line. Shortly thereafter, Nick Poss and Tyler Weaver both walked, setting the stage for another bases-clearing double, as Tallerman subsequently delivered another key hit that gave the hosts a 9-3 advantage.
Stung, the Aztecs narrowed the gap in the third when Montoya walked and score on Turner’s third triple of the season. Following a strikeout, Turner promptly raced home on Jackson’s grounder to short, cutting the margin to 9-5.
However, UCR responded with Lopez’s RBI single in the bottom of the inning, which plated Koniarsky, who previously smacked a one-out double.
Facing a five-run deficit, the Aztecs put up single markers in the sixth and eighth innings to narrow the gap. McCombs led off the sixth with a base hit up the middle and ultimately crossed the plate when the Highlanders were unable to complete a double play on Sammy Kahler’s grounder. Then in the eighth, Manoah Chapman singled and drove in Brady Lavoie for his first collegiate hit and RBI, pulling the visitors to within three at 10-7.
Held scoreless since the third, UCR plated three crucial runs in the bottom of the eighth to extend its lead to 13-7. Dylan Hawkes faced just two batters in the frame for the Scarlet and Black, issuing a walk to Koniarsky after hitting Chamizo with a pitch. Evan Miranda took the hill and gave up an RBI double to Lopez, who subsequently scored on Martinez’s own two-bagger, which also brought in pinch runner Jacob Badawi.
SDSU threw in one last scare in the ninth, plating two unearned runs after Montoya reached on an error and Turner singled. Both runners eventually scored on another botched double play attempt following Jackson’s grounder to short. Irwin Weems, who previously walked, advanced to third on the play, while Jackson ended up at second base.
However, Highlander reliever Cameron Barger struck out the next three batters swing to close out the game.
Despite allowing one unearned run on two hits and two runs without a strikeout, Eric Marrujo (1-0) was credited with the victory after pitching the fifth and sixth innings, while Russell (0-2) was tagged with the loss.
San Diego State continues its road swing this weekend when it travels to the Central Valley March 1-3 for a three-game series at Fresno State to open Mountain West play.
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