AZTECS SPLIT MW OPENING SERIES DOUBLEHEADER WITH BULLDOGS

San Diego State split its Mountain West doubleheader with Fresno State on Saturday at Tony Gwynn Stadium, losing the first game 3-2 before storming back with a 17-0 win in the second game.

Fresno State 3-0, Aztecs 2-17

“We came out extremely f lat, 100 percent that’s the head coach’s job getting our players ready to play,” SDSU head coach Mark Martinez said.

“I thought our guys responded pretty well in the second game.”

SDSU (6-3, 1-1 MW) had been averaging 11 runs a game coming into the conference opener, but was scoreless before Matt Rudick’s solo homer in the sixth inning that made it 1-1.

Fresno State (3-3, 1-1) pushed across two runs in the seventh on an infield single and a bases-loaded walk.

It proved just enough when the Aztecs scored a run in an eighth inning that ended on a double play.

That spoiled the outing by SDSU starter Mike Paredes, who allowed one run over six innings and struck out six.

In the second game, SDSU jumped out to a 14-0 lead — most of it coming in an 11run second inning — in a contest shortened to seven innings because of the 10-run rule being observed this season in the Mountain West.

SDSU’S Mike Jarvis, Wyatt Hendrie and Jaden Fein drove in four runs apiece for the Aztecs in the victory. SDSU was aided by four Fresno State errors.

The Aztecs collected 12 hits in the contest, with Jarvis and Ryan Orr getting three each.

SDSU’S Troy Melton (2-0) pitched to just three batters over the minimum after scattering four hits over seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts.

Toreros best Tritons

USD posted its third straight doubledigit-scoring victory over UC San Diego with a 10-2 win at Fowler Park. Toreros third baseman Adam Lopez had a game-high four RBIS, three of them coming on a basesloaded double in the eighth inning.

USD’S Conner Thurman picked up the victory with 21⁄3 shutout innings in relief of starter Jack Hyde, who allowed one run before leaving with two outs in the fifth inning.

Point Loma Nazarene drops doubleheader

Point Loma Nazarene let a six-run lead slip away in the opening game of its doubleheader at Vanguard, which capped its comeback with a pair of solo homers for a 9-8 win over the Sea Lions.

The pitchers for PLNU (1-3) also struggled in the second game, a 10-2 loss in seven innings.