April 29, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - San Diego State was limited to three hits over the first eight innings and had men in scoring position only once over that span as it dropped a 7-1 decision at Loyola Marymount Tuesday evening. With the loss the Aztecs saw their season record fall to 31-14.
LMU opened the scoring in the bottom of third as SDSU starter Cody Thompson ran into some early control problems. After the first two hitters reached on a hit batter and walk, Austin Miller doubled down the left field line to give Lions a quick 2-0 lead.
Loyola Marymount (26-19) starter Brenton Arriaga, meanwhile, retired the first nine batters he faced before a leadoff single by Greg Allen to open the top of the fourth. But with a double play and a ground out he would end the first four frames having faced the minimum.
The Lions doubled their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Brice Savage lofted a two-run homer to left center field off Thompson, who would depart after surrendering a double to the ensuing hitter. Thompson went 4.2 innings allowing the four runs (two earned) on five hits with one walk. He would eventually be charged with the loss to fall to 5-3 on the season.
LMU added to its lead with three more runs in the sixth with a double and four singles against relievers TJ Kendzora and Brett Seeburger before Steve Pallares was able to end the rally with a fielder's choice.
After not having a man reach second over the first six innings, the Aztecs mounted a threat in their half of the seventh, loading the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batter by Arriaga. But reliever Tyler Cohen got a line out to third that was turned into a double play to end the frame.
Although Arriaga's night ended in the top of the seventh he would be credited with the victory to improve to 4-3. Over his 6.1 innings of work he allowed no runs on just two hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
The Aztecs scored a consolation run their final at bat as Greg Allen and Tim Zier singled with one out. After a pop out to first, Seby Zavala added a single to right to bring home Allen as avoided the shutout.
Allen accounted for two of Aztecs' six hits on the night while Tim Zier had a single and reach twice via the walk.
San Diego State will resume Mountain West Conference action this weekend as it travels to Albuquerque to face New Mexico in a three-game series. The opening contest of that set is scheduled for Friday, May 2, at 6:00 p.m. (MT) at UNM's Lobo Field.