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, Nev. - Nevada's eight-run first inning came in 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 at Peccole Park.

The win brought 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 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 from Aztec third baseman Tino Bethancourt which led to a pair of unearned runs for Nevada which ended up being the difference late. The errors put Nolan Wilson and Justin Acal on to start the bottom of the seventh, and, after a one-out intentional walk to Michael Ball, JR Freethy drew a bases-loaded walk off of Trevor Fox, and Taylor Holder's grounder to third scored Acal to make it 13-5.

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

Facing Dominic Desch, Jake Jackson beat out a potential double play, bringing another Aztec run in. Bethancourt was hit by a pitch, loading the bases again, and Colby Turner singled to make it 13-9. Nevada was forced to bring on closer Ethan O'Neal, who 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 got a run in the top of the ninth, and had runners at second and third with one out. But O'Neal buckled down, striking out Jackson then getting Bethancourt to fly to right for the final out.

It was Nevada which benefitted early from wildness on the mound. Aztec starter Jacob Riordan hit two batters and issued two walks in the first, while RBI singles from Bryce Matthews and Justin Acal and sacrifice flies from Wilson and Jesse Pierce made it 5-0. Michael Ball would blast a three-run shot to left to cap the scoring, as Nevada took an early 8-0 lead.

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

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

The teams return to action Friday at 5:05 p.m.