MESA (Interstat) — Drew Talavs pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-hit, shutout relief and San Diego State beat Washington State 9-2 in the first game of a doubleheader at the Mountain West Conference Baseball Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Talavs struck out five without allowing an earned run. Anthony Marnell IV hit a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his fourth of the season, and Jabin Trosky drove in three runs despite going 0 for 2. Jake Jackson went 3 for 3 for the Aztecs, who improved to 36-24.

San Diego State scored twice in the first inning on a groundout by Trosky and a fielding error, then added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly. The Aztecs broke the game open with four runs in the seventh, keyed by Zane Kelly’s RBI double. Washington State got a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly and another in the ninth on a single by Skjonsby.

Brock Blatter started for the Cougars, allowing two earned runs in five innings despite not giving up a hit. Washington State fell to 30-26. Both teams finished with six hits.