Aztecs Complete Weekend Sweep of LIU with 6-5 Walk-Off Thriller

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State’s Zane Kelly ripped an RBI single with the bases loaded in the ninth on Sunday to lift the Aztecs to a 6-5 walk-off victory over LIU in the finale of a weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

With the win, SDSU completes a series sweep and moves to 3-0 on the season for the first time since 2018.

The Aztecs received solo home runs from Dawson Santana and Gage Adams, along with a two-blast by Tyce Peterson to help build a 5-0 advantage over the winless Sharks (0-3).

Right-handed pitcher Carson Johnson was masterful in his first collegiate start for the Scarlet and Black after transferring from Arizona. The redshirt sophomore posted a career-high 11 strikeouts in seven-plus innings before exiting early in the eighth.

With SDSU clinging to a 5-4 lead, LIU pushed across the tying run in the top of the ninth when Michael Polubinski raced home from third on Nicholas Delvecchio’s single through the left side on a 2-2 pitch with two outs.

Previously, Joe Durso led off with a double to left center off new Aztec reliever Aidan Russell. Polubinski pinch ran for Durso and quickly advanced to third on passed ball, as Russell struck out Elijah Fairchild and Mason Breton before yielding Delvecchio’s fateful hit.

Unfazed, SDSU went back to work in the bottom of the inning, as Jabin Trosky hit a bloop double down the right-field line, while Nate Lopez drew a walk. Alex Jankowski replaced Nic Benhardt on the mound before Drew Rutter reached on a fielder’s choice. The shortstop Rivera turned towards third in an attempt to gun down the lead runner Trosky but mishandled the ball before making the throw.

With the bases now loaded, Kelly cracked a 1-2 pitch through the right side of the infield, plating Trosky with the winning run, as the Aztec dugout rushed the field in celebration.

Despite yielding the tying run, Russell (1-0) picked up his fourth career victory, while Benhardt (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Previously, Johnson held LIU hitless through the first 6 1/3 innings, retiring 16 straight batters after issuing a leadoff walk in the second. However, the Chandler, Arizona, native lost his no-hit bid in the seventh when Ryan Rivera singled to shallow right field.

The Aztecs drew first blood when Santana drilled a 2-0 pitch from Sharks starter James Lordi over the left-field fence for his first collegiate home run after playing the last two seasons at Oregon State.

Despite the hiccup, Lordi retired the next 10 hitters before running into trouble in the sixth. Adams greeted the LIU hurler with his first round-tripper as an Aztec, crushing the second pitch of the frame over the left-field fence. With momentum on its side, SDSU tacked on three additional markers in the inning, highlighted by Adam Magpoc’s sacrifice fly and Peterson’s two-run bomb.

Earlier, Santana walked and motored to third on Max Farrell’s double to right center before alertly tagging from third on Magpoc’s pop fly wide into foul territory down the left-field line.

Moments later, Torin Kassebaum replaced Lordi on the mound and promptly served up a home-run ball to Peterson, who deposited the offering deep over the right-center field fence for his first dinger in a Scarlet and Black uniform after transferring from Oregon State.

Johnson yielded a leadoff single to Fairchild in the eighth and was replaced by Colton LaFave on a 2-0 count to Breton, who ultimately walked. LaFave struck out Delvecchio and Cord Dobrinski before Nicholas Matson singled through the right side, plating Fairchild, while Noah Sorensen followed with a two-run double.

Shortly thereafter Sorensen took third on a wild pitch and quickly scored on a passed ball, narrowing the gap to 5-4 and setting the stage for an exciting finish.

San Diego State returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 17, when it makes the short drive up the freeway to face UC Irvine. First pitch from Anteater Ballpark is slated for 6 p.m. PT.