LA JOLLA, Calif. – Bolstered by several superlative offensive performances, San Diego State rolled to a big 18-8 victory over UC San Diego Wednesday night in a crosstown battle at Triton Ballpark.
The Aztecs (10-22) set season highs in runs scored (18), hits (22) and RBIs (17) to snap a four-game losing streak, while the Tritons (21-10) dropped their second straight decision and fourth in their last six outings.
In addition, SDSU's robust totals represent its highest production at the plate since April 2, 2023, when the Scarlet and Black compiled 22 hits and 18 RBIs in a 19-7 romp at New Mexico.
Seven players finished with multiple hits for the Aztecs, including Brady Lavoie, who smacked two home runs and finished with four RBIs after replacing an injured Colby Turner in the bottom of the first inning.
In addition, Tino Bethancourt totaled five RBIs on the evening, highlighted by his first career grand slam in the fourth that gave SDSU an 8-3 advantage.
Not to be outdone, Shaun Montoya tied a pair of collegiate bests with a game-high four hits and four runs scored, while Jacob McCombs, Cade Martinez and Evan Sipe set career bests with three hits apiece.
Additionally, Sipe notched a collegiate-high four RBIs, while Martinez scored a personal-best three runs, duplicating the feat of Jake Jackson, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Trailing 3-1, the Aztecs did most of their damage between the third and fifth innings, erupting for 12 consecutive runs in that stretch to seize momentum.
Lavoie greeted UCSD reliever Nathan Huy with a solo blast on the second pitch of the third frame, while Sipe delivered a clutch two-run single later in the inning to give the Scarlet and Black a lead it would not relinquish.
The Aztecs padded their lead on one swing of the bat in the fourth, as Bethancourt crushed a 1-2 offering from Huy over the left-center field fence for a grand slam to give the visitors an 8-3 cushion. Earlier, SDSU loaded the bases when Martinez and Montoya led off with consecutive singles, while Lavoie drew a walk.
The Scarlet and Black continued its barrage in the fifth, scoring five runs on six hits and two errors after sending 10 batters to plate. Bethancourt, Jackson, McCombs and Sipe each ripped RBI singles, with McCombs crossing the plate after Zane Kelly reached on a fielding error at second base.
The Tritons finally answered with a run in the fifth when Nick Costello led off with a double and later scored on Brock Kleszcz's infield single.
UCSD crept closer in the sixth, capitalizing on five walks and one hit batter with four runs to trim the margin to 13-8. Tritons received an RBI groundout from Emiliano Gonzalez, while Doyle Kane and Patrick Hackworth drew bases-loaded walks before Bradlee Preap raced home on Kleszcz's fielder's choice to second.
With two runners still aboard, however, SDSU's fourth reliever of the game Dylan Hawkes struck out pinch hitter Delshaun Lanier to prevent further damage, and UCSD never threatened again.
Buoyed by their good fortune, the Aztecs resumed their scoring spree in the eighth when Lavoie launched a three-run homer with one out off Ryan Farmer after Martinez singled through the right side and Montoya was issued a walk.
SDSU accounted for the final tallies in the ninth when Jackson walked and later scored on Sipe's RBI double, while Kelly's sacrifice fly plated McCombs, who was previously hit by a pitch.
A junior college transfer from Utah State Eastern, Hawkes (1-0) was credited with his first Division I victory after pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, while Huy (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Aztec starter Garvey Rumary yielded three runs on four hits and a walk in three innings before giving way to Chris Canada to start the fourth. Conversely, the Tritons opened with Donovan Criss, who ceded one run on three hits and a walk in the first two frames.
Gonzalez had two of the Tritons' eight hits, while Kleszcz and Cooper Thacker finished with two RBIs apiece in the loss.
UP NEXT
San Diego State opens the second half of its conference schedule this weekend when it plays host to UNLV in a three-game Mountain West series, April 12-14, at Tony Gwynn Stadium. All three contests will air live on the MW Network.
Aztecs Power Past UC San Diego, 18-8
