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Aztecs maintain precarious grip on first place in MW
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
April 15, 2023 (Fresno) - Charlie Rhee ripped a one-out single in the top of the 10th inning to score Cole Carrigg with the go-ahead run, as San Diego State edged Fresno State, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game Mountain West series Friday at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
With the victory, the Aztecs (13-17, 8-3 MW) maintained their perch atop the conference standings percentage points ahead of San José State (16-13, 9-4 MW), which beat UNLV at home by a 6-2 tally. Conversely, the Bulldogs (15-17, 7-8 MW) dropped their sixth straight despite the efforts of three pitchers who combined for 15 strikeouts.
SDSU extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the seven when Caden Miller reached on a two-base error by third baseman Murf Gray and eventually came around to score on Poncho Ruiz’s sharp single to right with two outs.
Aztec starter TJ Fondtain, who held Fresno State scoreless through the first seven innings on three hits and one walk, induced a flyout to Travis Welker to open the eighth before walking Ben Newton. Nikoh Mitchell then bunted for a base hit, while Gray quickly atoned for his miscue with a three-run homer to left, which knotted the score at 3-3.
After Bobby Blandford struck out, Tommy Hopfe followed with a single through the left side, chasing Fondtain, as Robert Brodell was summoned from the bullpen. However, the SDSU reliever was lifted in favor of Eldridge Armstrong III after issuing consecutive walks to Marco Pirrucello and Grady Morgan. Unfazed, Armstrong prevented further damage by inducing a flyout to Tyler Davis.
Both teams were retired in order in the ninth before Carrigg led off the Aztec 10th with a single up the middle off reliever Jack Anker, who hit Xavier Gonzalez with a pitch in between strikeouts to Tino Bethancourt and Cade Martinez.
Rhee, who entered the night with just four at-bats this season and was inserted as a defensive replacement in left to start the eighth, stepped to the plate and swung on the first pitch from Anker and looped the ball into left, as Carrigg motored around third for the eventual winning run.
Kelena Sauer then pitched a dominant 10th for the Scarlet and Black, striking out the side to notch his career-high sixth save of the season. The Aztec right-hander recorded just one ball in 10 pitches to preserve the win for Armstrong (3-0), while Anker (2-2) absorb the loss.
Fondtain was cruising for much of the contest, retiring nine straight batters until the Bulldogs pounced in the eighth. The Clovis, California, native finished with six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
SDSU maintained a 12-6 advantage in hits, with Carrigg, Ruiz, Gonzalez and Shaun Montoya totaling two apiece. However, the Aztecs stranded 13 runners for the game and had to withstand a career-high 10 strikeouts from Fresno State starter Ixan Henderson, who gave up eight hits and four walks in 6 2/3 innings of work.
The Scarlet and Black grabbed the early lead in the second Carrigg reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and raced home on Gonzalez's single up the middle.
SDSU loaded the bases in the third but was unable to score. Maddox Haley led off with a single and took second on a fielding error, while Caden Miller drew a one-out walk before Montoya reached on an infield hit. However, Henderson fought himself off the ropes with a pair of strikeouts to Ruiz and Carrigg.
The Aztecs increased the margin to 2-0 in the fifth when the Miller galloped home on Bethancourt’s sacrifice fly to deep right field.
Hopfe led the Bulldogs with two hits in the loss, while Zach Statzer had three strikeouts in a relief stint of 1 2/3 innings after spelling Henderson with one out in the seventh.
San Diego State resumes its series at Fresno State on Saturday, starting at 3:05 p.m. The Aztecs-Bulldogs clash will air live on the Mountain West Network.
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