SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Tyce Peterson launched a two-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday, lifting San Diego State to a 3-2 comeback victory over Saint Mary’s in a nonconference baseball game at USD Sports Center.

The win improved the Aztecs to 9-5, while the Gaels fell to 7-5.

The game’s defining moment came after seven and a half innings of tense, pitching-dominated baseball. With his team trailing 2-1, San Diego State shortstop Jabin Trosky led off the eighth with a single. After a flyout, Peterson stepped in against Saint Mary’s reliever Talin Gardini. On a 1-1 count, Peterson connected, sending a towering drive to deep left field that cleared the wall, scoring Trosky ahead of him and flipping the score to 3-2.

Peterson finished 2 for 4 with all three of San Diego State’s RBIs. His first came on a first-inning double that scored Trosky, who had reached on an error.

That early run was a direct response to Saint Mary’s two-run first inning against Aztecs starter Rohan Lettow. The Gaels capitalized on a two-out rally. With runners on first and second, Diego Castellanos doubled to right field, scoring Christian John. The second run came home when the ball was mishandled by left fielder Adam Magpoc, allowing Nathan Sniffen to score from first.

From there, the game became a duel of bullpens and defensive miscues. Saint Mary’s starter John Damozonio was brilliant, tossing six scoreless innings of no-hit baseball. He walked two, struck out five and allowed only an unearned run in the first. He exited with a 2-1 lead.

San Diego State’s Aidan Russell, named the team’s top star, was equally dominant in relief. Entering with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth inning, he stranded all three runners by getting a lineout. Russell proceeded to shut down the Gaels, working 4 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out six to earn the win. Over his last three appearances, Russell has thrown 9 2/3 hitless innings.

Gardini took the loss for Saint Mary’s, allowing two earned runs on two hits in two innings of work after replacing Damozonio.

Both teams squandered opportunities and were hampered by errors. Saint Mary’s committed two errors, leading to one unearned run, while San Diego State committed three errors, contributing to both Gael runs. The Gaels managed just five hits total, while the Aztecs had eight, with two each from Peterson and Trosky.

The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had forecast an 8-5 Saint Mary’s victory and gave the Gaels a 67% probability of winning based on its ELO system.

The two teams continue their three-game series Saturday at USD Sports Center.