SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Diego State opened its weekend road trip on a sour note Friday, dropping a 3-2 decision to San José State in 11 innings in a non-conference game at Excite Ballpark.
With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 11-11 on the season, while the Spartans improve to 7-12 overall.
SDSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Dawson Santana scored without the benefit of a hit, reaching on a fielder’s choice before circling the bases on a groundout to the pitcher and consecutive wild pitches.
The Aztecs tacked on another marker in the third after Peterson smoked a triple to right and raced home on Zach Justice’s sacrifice fly.
Earlier, SJSU threatened in the first after Alec Fernandes led off with a walk and motored to third on Peyton Rowles’ single to right center.
However, SDSU starter Rohan Lettow fought himself off the proverbial ropes when Rocco Caballero popped out and Rowles was thrown out in an attempted steal of second base. Moments later, Jake McCoy struck out, stranding Fernandes at third.
Lettow settled in at this juncture, striking out five additional batters over the next five innings, retiring the side in third, fifth and sixth.
In the interim, the Aztecs put two runners aboard in the fifth when Jabin Trosky ripped a double down the left-field line, while Max Farrell drew a walk. Following a strikeout, SDSU pulled off a double steal, with Trosky and Farrell moving up 90 feet on the basepaths.
However, Trosky was thrown out at home trying to score on Justice’s grounder to first, while Adam Magpoc grounded into another fielder’s choice shortly thereafter.
The score remained unchanged at 2-0 until the bottom of the seventh when McCoy threaded a single through the left side and crossed the plate moments later on Brent Cota’s two-run homer to right.
The Aztecs put another runner aboard in the eighth when Jake Jackson smacked a double to left but was left stranded after Spartan middle reliever Kyle Calzadiaz struck out Santana and induced a flyout by Anthony Marnell IV.
SDSU also threatened in the ninth off SJSU’s third pitcher of the day Caden Duke, who issued a leadoff walk to Zane Kelly. Following Trosky’s sacrifice bunt and a two-out stolen base, however, Kelly was left stranded at third when Duke froze Peterson on a called third strike.
The Aztecs were unable to capitalize having a runner aboard in the 10th and 11th inning, as the Spartans plated the game-winner on McCoy’s single to righ, scoring Rowles, who laced a leadoff hit through the right side and moved to second on Caballero’s sacrifice.
Duke (2-0) picked up the victory, while SDSU reliever Jake Frohn (0-2) absorbed the loss after yielding the decisive in his stint of 3 1/3 innings.
Lettow tossed the first seven frames, giving up Cota’s dinger and five additional hits with one walk against six strikeouts.
Peterson, Justice and Jackson led the Scarlet and Black with two hits apiece.
San Diego State will play a two-team doubleheader on Saturday, squaring off against Connecticut at noon PT before facing San José State in a rematch at 4 :30 p.m. PT. Both contests will be conducted at Excite Ballpark once again.