Five San Diego State pitchers combined to make history on Tuesday night, shutting down UC Riverside for the tenth no-hitter in the university's baseball program history. The Aztecs secured a nail-biting 1-0 victory at Tony Gwynn Stadium in a game defined by masterful pitching and clutch defence.
The collective effort involved freshman Jake Frohn, Carson Johnson, Issac Araiza, Bryce McKnight, and Aidan Russell. They held the Highlanders to just two baserunners all evening, both via walks. The win improves SDSU's season record to 19-15.
Midweek collegiate games are often used as an opportunity for programs to develop their pitching depth, giving arms that may not feature heavily in weekend conference series a chance to shine. Tuesday’s contest, however, turned into something far more memorable.
A single run and stellar defence
The game's only run came in the bottom of the fourth inning. SDSU's Jake Jackson got on base and was driven in by second baseman Dawson Santana, providing the slimmest of margins for the pitchers to defend. And defend they did.
That was really fun, really special. They were all executing at a high level. You know a freshman started it. It just shows we’re continuing to get better as the season progresses. I’m super proud of the guys for being relentless.
The no-hitter was nearly broken up twice in the game's final innings. In the top of the eighth, Highlanders designated hitter Isiah Hernandez hit a ground ball that forced SDSU shortstop Jabin Trosky to make a low throw to first. First baseman Max Farrell expertly scooped the ball out of the dirt for the out, preventing a difficult scoring decision between a hit or an error.
The drama continued in the ninth. After UC Riverside's Tyler Gordon drew a one-out walk from closer Aidan Russell, batter Miles Scott hit a hard ground ball between first and second. Farrell, once again, made a spectacular diving play to his right, knocking the ball down and throwing from his knees to get the force-out at second base. Russell then struck out the next batter to end the game and seal the historic achievement.
A rare feat in program history
The combined no-hitter is only the second in San Diego State's history. The first occurred in 1989, when Jim Gibbs and Kevin Nielsen achieved the feat against Air Force. While a five-man no-hitter is highly unusual, it falls two pitchers short of the NCAA record, set in 2021 when Elmira College used seven pitchers in a win over Penn State-Wilkes Barre.
Freshman right-hander Jake Frohn, from Huntington Beach, started the game for the Aztecs, pitching four impressive innings with four strikeouts and only one walk. Carson Johnson, who was credited with the win, pitched the fifth and sixth innings, adding three strikeouts. Issac Araiza, Bryce McKnight, and Aidan Russell each pitched one inning to close out the game. This marks the third consecutive season an Aztec pitcher has recorded a no-hitter, following Jacob Riordan’s seven-inning no-hitter against New Mexico in March 2024 and TJ Fondtain’s complete game no-hitter against Nevada in April 2023. This is part of a proud tradition of pitching at the university, which includes a famous no-hitter by future MLB top draft pick Stephen Strasburg in 2009, and echoes recent museum exhibits regarding ancient sporting achievements, such as the Melbourne Museum treasures of ancient Rome.
A season of pitching dominance for SDSU
The baseball team's success is part of a broader story of pitching excellence at SDSU this year. Just last month, the Aztecs softball team celebrated a no-hitter of its own when junior Faith Jordan shut down Long Beach State in a 13-0 victory. It was the fifth no-hitter in the softball program's recorded history.
"We are excited to welcome Faith Jordan to our program,” head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz said in a press release when Jordan, a transfer from Fresno State, joined the team. "She brings with her two years of Division 1 and Mountain West conference experience and will add an important piece to our pitching staff." That contribution has clearly paid dividends, mirroring the success seen on the baseball diamond at one of San Diego's key institutions.
The success of both the baseball and softball programs highlights the strong development pipeline for student-athletes at the university, which focuses on both academic and athletic achievement, similar to programs where students present research at academic events.
Looking ahead in the Mountain West
The Aztecs, who currently sit atop the Mountain West conference standings with a 7-2 record, will look to carry this momentum forward. Their focus now shifts back to conference play as they prepare for a crucial three-game series this weekend in Albuquerque against the New Mexico Lobos (19-11-2, 5-3-1 MW).
The series against a tough conference rival will be a significant test for SDSU as they aim to solidify their position as the team to beat in the Mountain West and continue their push toward the postseason.
