LAS VEGAS – San Diego State won its third straight game on Friday with an 8-5 triumph over host UNLV in the Mountain West opener for both teams at Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
The Aztecs (3-5, 1-0 MW) totaled a season-high 15 hits—all singles—to deal the Rebels 4-5 (0-1 MW) their fifth loss in six outings.
The top four hitters in SDSU's lineup shouldered most the offensive burden, batting a collective .500 (9-18) and scoring all eight runs.
Shaun Montoya crossed the plate on four occasions to tie a career-high and led all players with three hits while notching his conference-best sixth stolen base.
In addition, the Aztecs received two hits apiece from Irvin Weems, Cole Carrigg and Poncho Ruiz (2 RBIs), while Xavier Gonzalez roped two singles as well.
Despite allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks, SDSU starter TJ Fondtain (1-1) was credited with his first victory of the year after completing 5 2/3 innings with a season-high five strikeouts.
Collectively, Aztec hurlers fanned 11 UNLV batters, reaching the double-digit plateau in that statistic for the fifth consecutive game. Relievers Omar Serrano, Eldridge Armstrong III and Kelena Sauer yielded just one unearned run on just one hit without a walk over the final 3 1/3 innings, combining for six strikeouts.
Sauer, who retired the side in order in the ninth, recorded his second save in as many outings.
SDSU benefited from three runs on five hits in the first inning on Friday, with Ruiz, Gonzalez and Drew Giannini providing RBI singles.
However, the Rebels responded with three markers of their own in the second after Austin Kryszczuk and Braden Murphy singled and drew a walk, respectively, before racing home on Alex Pimentel's triple to left field. Moments later, Paul Myro plated Pimentel on a sacrifice fly to knot the score at 3-3.
The deadlock remained until the top of the fifth when the Scarlet and Black tallied two runs on two hits to vault in front for good. Weems reached on an error to lead off the frame and ultimately touched the plate following consecutive singles by Montoya and Carrigg.
Meanwhile, Montoya and Carrigg pulled off a double steal after a popout, with Tino Bethancourt knocking in Montoya on a grounder to second, putting the visitors up 5-3.
UNLV narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the sixth when Edarian Williams hit a one-out single and advanced to third on a walk and fielder's choice before sprinting home on a passed ball.
However, the Rebels returned the favor by gifting the Aztecs an unearned run in the seventh before bestowing two similar markers in the eighth.
Montoya walked and Carrigg singled to lead off the seventh; however, UNLV reliever Nick Rupp appeared to dodge a proverbial bullet by inducing a double play to the next batter Ruiz. Bethancourt followed with a seemingly routine grounder to shortstop, but Myro's throw went awry, allowing Montoya to score from third.
With the first two hitters retired in the eighth, Weems singled to center and motored around to third on Montoya's base hit through the right side. Shortly thereafter, Weems darted home when Carrigg's grounder to the first base side was mishandled by Murphy, providing the Aztecs an 8-4 cushion.
UNLV pushed across an unearned run in its half of the eighth when Jacob Sharp crossed the plate after Kryszczuk reached on an infield error with two outs. Previously, Sharp laced a double to center and promptly advanced on a wild pitch before Williams struck out swinging. However, Armstrong induced a groundout to Murphy, preventing further damage.
With an 8-5 lead safely in tow, Sauer took the mound for the Scarlet and Black in the ninth and needed just seven pitches to record three outs and preserve the victory, fanning Myro before getting pinch hitter Jason Sharman to pop out to shallow center.
Despite zero walks, Rebel starter Noah Beal (0-2) was tagged with the loss, surrendering five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings before giving way to Rupp (1.2 IP 1 R, 3H, 1 BB) and Noah Carbajal (2.1 IP, 2 R, 4 H, 3 SO) in succession.
San Diego State continues its weekend series with UNLV on Saturday when game two gets underway at 1:05 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Rebels clash will air live on the Mountain West Network.
Aztecs Topple UNLV in MW Opener, 8-5
