SAN DIEGO – In a Saturday doubleheader at Tony Gwynn Stadium, the Northeastern Huskies (7-5) swept the San Diego State Aztecs (4-12) by scores of 9-6 in game one and 12-9 in a 12-inning game two.
The Huskies belted six home runs on the day, and got seven hits from
Jack Goodman (2-for-4 in game one, 5-for-7 in game two), and five hits from
Ryan Gerety (4-for-5 in game one, 3 RBI in game two).
GAME 1 – Northeastern 9, San Diego State 6
- The Huskies struck first with back to back home runs in the opening inning – Jack Goodman hit a two-out, three-run homer to left field, and Harrison Feinberg followed him with a solo shot to the same exact spot to lead early, 4-0.
- The Aztecs responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double to left-center.
- Jack Doyle led off the second inning with a solo shot to the same exact spot as the first two behind the left field wall to lead 5-1.
- SDSU answered that with a two-run single in the bottom of the frame to cut back into the lead, 5-3.
- Cam Maldonado hit a two-run homer to right field in the fifth, scoring Ryan Gerety who led off the inning with a single, to lead 7-3.
- San Diego State scored twice in the fifth on a single and error in the outfield which allowed two runs to score, followed by a single to center field to cut the lead down to one.
- Needing an insurance run, Cam Maldonado delivered once again in the top of the ninth with another opposite field shot, scoring Gerety who reached on a out-out single, to give the Huskies a cushion going into the bottom of the ninth.
- Will Jones got the decision in his fourth straight weekend start (W, 4-0) allowing five earned runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out two on the afternoon.
- The bullpen produced four strong innings of relief, with Brett Dunham providing a three-inning hold with no runners allowed and two strikeouts.
- In the bottom of the ninth, the Huskies turned to closer Jack Beauchesne to collect the three-out save, which he did on 14 pitches, allowing just one hit as he struck out his lead, got the second out on a grounder to third, and a pop up to Goodman at second to end the game. It was Beauchesne's second save of the season.
- Northeastern's scoring plays in the first game all came on home runs – the Huskies tallied five homers in game one, a season-high.
- Ryan Gerety's four hits in game one was a new career high, while scoring three runs. Maldonado also tallied three runs going 3-for-4, with four RBIs.
GAME 2 – Northeastern 12, San Diego State 9 (12 inn.)
- In the first inning of game two, Cam Maldonado stayed hot with a two-out home run, once again to the opposite field, for the 1-0 lead.
- SDSU set what would be the tone of the game and answered back with a two-out RBI of their own, singling to right field.
- The Huskies capitzlied on a fielding error in the top of the third, as a double play ball was thrown errant and allowed Maldonado, who was running from second to third, to round third and come home to retake the lead, 2-1.
- Similarly, the Aztecs tallied an RBI ground out in the bottom of the inning to tie it, and an RBI single to center to take a 3-2 lead, their first lead of the series.
- SDSU would hold that lead until the sixth, when the Huskies tied the game on a sac fly from Carmelo Musacchia, and then retook the lead on a big two-RBI single from Gerety. The Huskies led 5-3 after six.
- San Diego tied it back up in the bottom of the seventh on a two-run single to left-center. Neither side was able to tally any more in the final two innings, and the game went to extras.
- The Huskies struck first in extras, scoring two in the 11th – with Justin Bosland placed on second for the international extra innings rule, Bosland stole third on a fake bunt from Musacchia, and then ran home on an Jack Goodman single through the left side. After Gerety was intentially walked, he made it to third on Goodman's single, then ran home on a wild pitch as Harrison Feinberg drew a walk.
- Up 7-5 in the bottom of the 11th, the Huskies were unable to hold off the Aztecs as SDSU tied the game on two-run single through the left side.
- At 7-7 in the 12th, Jack Doyle was placed on second and moved over to third on a bunt single from Will Fosberg. Freshman DH Carter Bentley notched his first career hit, a laser down the left field line for a double, scoring Doyle and Fosberg for the go-ahead runs.
- After a Bosland bunt single sent Bentley to third, Musacchia also notched a two-run double to left, scoring both runners to lead 11-7.
- Musacchia would go on to steal third and would score on a Ryan Gerety sac-fly.
- In the bottom of the 12th, with two runners on, Ryan Griffin came in to get the final three outs, which he got from a foul out, a fly out, and a strike out. The Aztecs were able to score a pair of two-out runs, but the Huskies held on to win 12-9.
- Griffin relieved Max Gitlin, who began his night in the 11th inning in relief of Cooper McGrath. Gitlin worked just 0.2 innings with a strikeout, earning the relief win.
- Starter Aiven Cabral went 6.1 innings to begin the game, allowing five runs on eight hits, but tying his career-high of eight batters struck out.
- McGrath entered in the seventh and blanked the Aztecs from the 7th to the 11th innings, but received a no decision after leaving the game with the tying run on base.
- Goodman's 5-for-7 effort in game two ties his career high, while Musacchia and Gerety each tallied three RBIs in the contest.
- It's the second double header sweep of the year in three tries for Northeastern.
NU goes for the fourth and final game of the series on Sunday, March 9
th at 12 p.m. PDT on Mountain West Network and WRBB Sports.