The early lead holds as Nevada takes the opener

Nevada 13, San Diego State 11

Thursday May 16, 2024
Reno, Nev. – Don Weir Field at Peccole Park

WP: Jason Doktorczyk (6-4)

LP: Jacob Riordan (3-6)

SV: Ethan O’Neal (5)

RENO, Nevada – Nevada’s eight-run first inning came especially handy late in Thursday night’s opener against San Diego State, as the Aztecs cut a late eight-run deficit to two before the Wolf Pack held on for the 13-11 win at Don Weir Field in Peccole. Park.

The win moved Nevada to 15-13 in Mountain West play (and 24-25 overall), and with results elsewhere, the Wolf Pack enters the penultimate day of the regular season tied for fourth place with San José State, just one game behind the trio of Air Force, Fresno State and New Mexico, all at 16-12.

It was two fielding errors by Aztec third baseman Tino Bethancourt that led to a pair of unearned runs for Nevada, which ultimately made the difference late. Made the mistakes Nolan Wilson And Justin Acal on to start the bottom of the seventh, and, after an intentional one-out walk, to Michael Bal, JR Freethy drew a bases loaded walk on Trevor Fox, and Taylor Holders grounder to third scored Acal to make it 13-5.

However, San Diego State (16-36, 9-19 MW) made things interesting over the final two frames. The Aztecs used three walks to load the bases with one out against the Wolf Pack reliever Matthew Canizares. Finley Bates lined for an RBI single, and Zane Kelly was hit by a pitch to force another run, ending the night for Canizares.

Confronted Dominic Desch, Jake Jackson defeated a potential double play to bring in another Aztec run. Bethancourt was hit by a pitch to load the bases again, and Colby Turner singled to make it 13-9. Nevada was forced to get closer Ethan O’Nealwho issued a bases-loaded walk to Irvin Weems to make it 13-10, before striking out Evan Sipe to end the threat.

San Diego State scored a run in the top of the ninth and had runners on second and third base with one out. But O’Neal surrendered, striking out Jackson and sending Bethancourt flying to right for the final out.

It was Nevada that took advantage of the wildness on the hill early on. Aztec starter Jacob Riordan hit two batters and walked two in the first inning, while RBI singled Bryce Matthews And Justin Acal and sacrifice flies from Wilson and Jesse Pierce made it 5-0. Michael Bal would fire a three-point shot to the left to cap the scoring as Nevada took an early 8–0 lead.

The Pack increased the lead to 10-1 in the third, when Matthews came home from third on a failed pickoff to first, leading to Pierce going to second and eventually scoring on a grounder by Wilson.

Jason Doktorczyk improved to 6-4 with the win, striking out six and giving up only two runs on three hits in six innings. Riordan fell to 3-6, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) with six walks in five innings.

The teams will be back in action on Friday at 5:05 PM