April 26, 2016
LONG BEACH, Calif. - San Diego State was held to one hit over the first eight innings in a 4-2 loss at Long Beach State Tuesday night at Blair Field in Long Beach. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 12-26 on the year while the 49ers improved to 23-16.
LBSU got out of the gate quickly, putting up three runs in the opening frame against SDSU right-hander Chris Collins. The home side used a double, two walks and a single to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
In the next inning Long Beach loaded the bases with one out on a single and a pair of walks, a situation that ended Collins' night prematurely. The Aztecs freshman hurler would go just 1.1 inning allowing three runs on three hits along with four walks. It would be enough to make him the losing pitcher on the night as his record fell to 2-2
Brett Seeburger came on from the SDSU bullpen and got out of the inning with no damage, but the junior lefty would surrender a run in the bottom of the third to make it a 4-0 contest. That would mark the end of the 49ers' scoring on the night, but it would be enough to carry them to victory.
The Aztec offense, meanwhile, was held in check over the first eight innings as it recorded only one hit, a single by Spencer Thornton in the fourth, against LBSU starter Jacob Hughey and reliever Dave Smith.
Hughey went the opening three-plus frames allowing the hit to Thornton along with five walks. Smith tossed the ensuing five innings, surrendering only a walk to Chase Calabuig from the third through eighth frame.
San Diego State finally got its offense rolling in the top of the ninth, but it would be too little, too late. A walk to CJ Saylor plus singles by Thornton and Tyler Adkison loaded the bases to start the frame. Kyle Brown then came on to pitch, only to walk Jordan Verdon and force in SDSU's opening run.
That brought pitcher Austin McGeorge into the contest and he promptly got a strikeout for the first out of the inning. David Hensley's single then scored Thornton, but McGeorge recorded another strikeout and a fly out to left to end the contest as he recorded his second save of the year. Smith got the win for LBSU to even his season record at 3-3.
San Diego state now returns home where it will host a three-game series against Mountain West foe Nevada that starts on Friday, April 29.
Prior to the schedule series opener, the Aztec and Wolf Pack will resume the suspended game that was played in Reno earlier this month and halted due to SDSU travel arrangements. That game, scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. Friday evening, will be picked up in the bottom of the 10th inning with the score tied 6-6.
The regularly-scheduled contest between Nevada and SDSU will still commence at 6:00 p.m., pending the length of completion of the suspended game.