SAN DIEGO — San Diego State's baseball team opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion, sweeping Long Island University in a three-game series at Tony Gwynn Stadium that showcased an influx of transfer talent and electric pitching.
The Aztecs won 12-10 on Thursday, 12-5 on Friday, and 6-5 in a walk-off on Saturday to start the season 3-0 — the program's first 3-0 start since 2019.
Transfer Class Makes Immediate Impact
The Aztecs' revamped roster wasted no time making its presence felt. Adam Magpoc, an outfield transfer, went 6-for-12 over the series with eight RBI and a home run. Shortstop Jabin Trosky also batted .500 (6-for-12) over the three games. Freshman first baseman Max Farrell led the team with a .455 batting average, a .600 on-base percentage, and an .818 slugging percentage, adding four RBI, six runs scored, and two stolen bases.
Second baseman Dawson Santana hit .417 (5-for-11) with six runs scored, contributing to a team batting line of .330/.429/.563 over the weekend.
Dominant Pitching
On Friday, Oregon State transfer Drew Talavs earned his first victory as an Aztec with eight strikeouts in five innings of work. On Saturday, freshman Carson Johnson struck out 11 batters through 6.1 hitless innings in his first collegiate start, dazzling the Aztec faithful before the bullpen preserved the win.
As a staff, SDSU posted a 15.3 strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate over the weekend, a mark that ranked fifth nationally entering the following week. The Aztecs also swiped eight stolen bases, leading the Mountain West in that category.
Walk-Off Drama
Saturday's series finale provided the weekend's most dramatic moment. After Johnson's dominant start, LIU fought back to make it a one-run game. Tyce Peterson's two-run home run in the sixth inning provided crucial insurance, and the Aztecs held on for the 6-5 walk-off victory to complete the sweep.
SDSU's next test comes Tuesday at UC Irvine, followed by a weekend series hosting BYU at Tony Gwynn Stadium.