Aztecs Fall to USC in Midweek Road Clash

IRVINE, Calif. – A late rally fell short for the San Diego State baseball team on Tuesday, as the Aztecs dropped a 9-6 decision to USC in a non-conference game at Great Park.

Trailing 7-4, SDSU (9-20) cut the deficit to one with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning, only to see the Trojans (17-11) put up two markers in their half of the frame to keep the Scarlet and Black at bay.

The Aztecs were led by Nevan Noonan (4-for-5), who posted season highs of four hits and three RBIs, while Jonathan Smith finished with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate with a pair of runs driven in.

However, USC countered with 3-for-5 performances from Jack Basseer (3 RBIs), Brayden Dowd (2 RBIs), while Bryce Grudzielanek went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and knocked in the go-ahead run in the fifth after beating out an infield hit.

The teams combined to strand 29 baserunners, including 17 by the Trojans.

SDSU opened the contest with four straight hits, with Daniel Arambula driving in Finley Bates with a single through the left side, while Smith scored on Noonan’s grounder up the middle.

However, USC tied the game at 2-2 in their half of the first inning on three hits while capitalizing on an Aztec error. Ethan Hedges and Grudzielanek each laced one-out singles before Basseer followed with a base hit to right. Hedges scored on the play, while Grudzielanek crossed the plate shortly thereafter on the errant throw home.

Unfazed, San Diego State responded with Smith’s two-run single in the second to reclaim a 4-2 advantage. The Aztecs loaded the bases on walks to Xavier Farnum and Bates sandwiched around a single by Evan Escobar. Moments later, Smith ripped the first pitch from reliever Grant Govel into center field, plating Farnum and Escobar.

The score remained unchanged until the fourth when the Trojans knotted the contest once again at 4-4 on Basseer’s RBI double with two outs. Earlier, Grudzielanek reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher, while Adrian Lopez drew a walk before Basseer’s shot down the third-base line.  

Then in the fifth, USC took the lead for good when Grudzielanek singled to shortstop to bring in Abbrie Covarrubias, who previously walked, while John Elliott was hit by a pitch, as both runners advanced on a sacrifice.

The Trojans extended their lead to 7-4 in the sixth when Elliott drew a bases-loaded walk, while Dowd followed with an RBI single.

Noonan’s two-run double in the eighth trimmed the deficit to 7-6, as Jake Jackson and Bates both crossed the plate after consecutive singles and Smith’s sacrifice. However, the Scarlet and Black was unable to get the equalizer, as Noonan was left stranded after reliever Brodie Purcell recorded a strikeout to end the inning.

USC tacked on two markers in the bottom of the frame to restore its three-run advantage at 9-6. Covarrubias walked and scored on Dowd’s RBI single, while Elliott reached on a fielder’s choice and subsequently crossed the plate on Hedges’ infield hit.

The Aztecs managed a two-out single by Farnum in the ninth, but Purcell collected another strikeout to earn the save and preserve the victory for Jude Favela (1-0), the Trojans’ fourth pitcher of the night who was credited with win.

Favela survived a shaky fifth in his lone inning of the game, inducing a fielder’s choice grounder to get out of a bases-loaded jam after issuing three walks. Noonan also singled in the frame and advanced to second on wild pitch before getting thrown out at third on a double steal attempt.

Conversely, SDSU’s third pitcher of the night, Thomas Young (0-2), absorbed the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and a trio of walks with two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings.

UP NEXT
San Diego State resumes its Mountain West schedule this weekend when its faces the Air Force Academy, April 4-6, at Erdle Field in Colorado Springs, Colorado.