San Diego State 5, Nevada 3
Friday, March 8, 2024
San Diego, Calif. - Tony Gwynn Stadium

WP: Jacob Riordan (2-0)
LP: Jason Doktorczyk (2-1)
SV: Jadon Bercovich (1)

SAN DIEGO - Nevada nearly climbed out of an early three-run hole, but could not complete the comeback, falling 5-3 in the series opener at San Diego State Friday.

Finley Bates led off the bottom of the first with a home run to quickly erase Nevada's early one-run lead, and two errors contributed to two more Aztec runs.

San Diego State (5-8, 2-2 MW) added another run in the third to up its lead to 4-1.

Nevada (4-7, 0-1 MW) fought back with runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Michael Ball's one-out single up the middle, his first of two in the game, plated Bryce Matthews to cut the deficit to two. An inning later, Matthews, who went 2-for-4 on the night, drove in his second run of the game with a double to center that scored JR Freethy, who had doubled to lead off the frame.

But the Wolf Pack was plagued by missed opportunities. After Ball's RBI single in the fourth, the Pack got walks from Derek Tenney and Jake Harvey to load the bases, but stranded all three runners. The next inning, Matthews was left on second after his one-out RBI double.

Back in the first, Nevada loaded the bases with none out, but only managed a run, that coming on Matthews' fielder's choice that scored Jesse Pierce.

After San Diego State got an insurance run in the sixth on Shaun Montoya's two-out single off of Nico Wagner, Nevada put two on with two out in the eighth, but again came away empty-handed.

Nevada starter Jason Doktorczyk suffered his first loss of the season, falling to 2-1 in a five-inning outing in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and walked four, with five strikeouts.

Four San Diego State pitchers combined to strike Wolf Pack batters out 14 times Friday, led by eight from starter Jacob Riordan, who improved to 2-0. Relievers Evan Miranda and Jaden Bercovich teamed to strike out five batters over the final two innings, with Bercovich picking up his first save.

The teams return to Tony Gwynn Stadium for the series' second game Saturday, set for a 6 p.m. first pitch.