Feb. 25, 2016
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - San Diego State spotted the University of San Diego six runs, worked its way back to within one, but eventually succumbed to the Toreros by the score of 9-6 Thursday night at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore.
The win was the first of the season for USD, which improved to 1-3. The Aztecs, meanwhile, saw their record drop to 1-4.
The Toreros put five runs on the board over the opening two frames including four of the unearned variety in the top of the second. Those all came against SDSU junior right-hander Mike Diamond, who was making his starting debut after arriving from Paradise Valley CC (Scottsdale, Ariz.) last fall.
USD tacked a sixth run onto its total in the fifth on a home run over the 36-foot high fence in right field by Hunter Mercado-Hood.
Up to that point, the Aztec had put a runner on base in each inning with a hit, but saw only one man advance as far as second base. That all changed in the bottom of the fifth when they scored twice to cut the deficit to 6-2. Alan Trejo and Justin Wylie drove in those runs with a double and single respectively.
SDSU added a run in the sixth on a double by Spencer Thornton and an RBI ground out by Jordan Verdon, then plated two more in the seventh to close the gap to a single run at 6-5.
The Aztec bullpen, however, was unable to shut down the Toreros in the top of the ninth as they scored three time on a walk, two singles and a double to make it a 9-5 contest.
SDSU got a consolation run in its final at bat on an RBI single by Trejo, but USD's Jonathan Teaney came on to retire the final three batters to pick up the save.
The win went to USD reliever Drew Jacobs, who tossed 1.1 innings in the middle of the contest. Diamond, who went just 1.2 innings as the SDSU starter, took the loss.
Wylie ended the evening with three singles and an RBI while Trejo had a single, double and three runs batted in.
Up next for Aztecs is three home games this weekend as part of the first Tony Gwynn Classic. SDSU's tourney opener will be against Bryant on Friday, Feb. 26, at 6:00 p.m.at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Earlier in the day Kentucky will take on UC Santa Barbara on a contest set to start at 1:00 p.m.