Aztecs Split Saturday Doubleheader in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Diego State split its two-team doubleheader on Saturday, posting a 6-4 triumph over Connecticut before dropping a wild 9-8 decision to San José State in 10 innings at Excite Ballpark.

With the results, the Aztecs move to 12-12 on the season.

GAME ONE VS. UCONN
Playing its first neutral-site game of the 2026 campaign, San Diego State scored two unearned runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to account for its margin of victory over the Huskies (10-13).

The Aztecs survived three UConn long balls, including Chris Polemeni’s two-run homer in the fifth, along with consecutive solo shots by Peyton Jamison and Gabriel Tirado in the sixth.

With the score knotted at 4-4, Tyce Peterson doubled home Jabin Trosky, who reached on a fielding error at shortstop before advancing on a wild pitch and a groundout.

Moments later, Peterson raced home on Zach Justice’s single through the left side to provide SDSU some added insurance.

Despite a rocky sixth, Aidan Russell (3-1) earned his third victory of the season after pitching the final four innings, including a spotless ninth, while Huskies’ reliever Austin Trumpour (0-1) absorbed the loss after surrendering the two decisive runs on three hits and zero walks with one strikeout in 3 2/3 innings.

Aztec starter Drew Talavs yielded two runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts in a five-inning stint.

SDSU capitalized on two UConn miscues to help forge a 3-0 lead in the first.

Trosky and Max Farrell drew consecutive walks to lead off the contest before Peterson reached on a throwing error during a sacrifice attempt. The errant toss to first allowed Trosky to score from second, while Farrell raced home on Zach Justice’s ensuing RBI single to center. Justice ultimately crossed the plate on Dawson Santana’s sacrifice fly.

The Aztecs tacked on another run in the second when Zane Kelly led off with double to right and promptly scored when Trosky reached on a fielding error at short, giving the Scarlet and Black a 4-0 advantage.

SDSU was paced by Justice’s three hits, while Peterson and Kelly finished with two each in the victory.

GAME TWO VS. SAN JOSÉ STATE
A furious rally fell short in the nightcap, as the Spartans (10-12) dealt the Aztecs an extra-inning defeat for the second straight evening.

Trailing 8-4, SDSU knotted the game with two outs in the ninth, scoring four runs on two hits, two walks, two hit batters and one wild pitch off closer Tyler Albanese.

Tyce Peterson’s sacrifice fly plated Adam Magpoc, who ripped a one-out double and took third on Max Farrell’s single to right. Moments later, Jake Jackson was struck by a pitch, while Dawson Santana drew a walk to load the bases.

Shortly thereafter, Farrell raced home on a wild pitch, while Drew Rutter walked to reload the bases. Justice was subsequently hit by a pitch, forcing in Jackson, while Santana touched home when Trosky drew a four-pitch walk.

However, the Aztecs were unable to seize the upper hand after Peter Herrick was summoned from the bullpen and induced a flyout to end the inning.

SDSU put two runners aboard in the 10th on singles by Magpoc and Peterson sandwiched around a flyout. But Herrick avoided danger once again when the Spartans turned a double play on a grounder to second.

SJSU tallied the game winner in the bottom of the frame when Brent Cota raced home from second on pinch hitter Rohne Klein’s single to right, sliding around an attempted swipe tag at the plate. Previously, Cota drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Rocco Caballero’s sacrifice, while Alan Ramirez survived a 12-pitch battle with another walk on a 3-2 count.

Herrick (1-0) earned the victory, while Simon Lemke (0-1) took the loss after entering in the fateful 10th.

The top four hitters in the Aztec lineup hit a collective .474 (9-19) for the game, including a 3-for-5 effort by Jackson, while Magpoc, Farrell and Peterson finished with two hits apiece.

Jackson’s two-run double highlighted a productive first inning for the visitors, while Santana added an RBI single.

However, the Spartans countered with three markers of their own in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of Jake McCoy’s fielder’s choice grounder, JC Osorio-Agard’s run-scoring double and Ramirez’s sacrifice fly.

Osorio-Agard also contributed a sacrifice fly in the second and smacked an RBI double in the eighth, as the host school ultimately grabbed an 8-4 advantage.

SDSU utilized five pitchers for the contest, featuring scoreless stints by Bryce McKnight (2.2 IP, 2 BB, 2 Ks) and Issac Araiza (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 1 K).

UP NEXT
San Diego State closes out its weekend excursion to Silicon Valley when it faces UConn once again on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. PT.