SAN DIEGO – Despite a strong outing from freshman starting pitcher Aaron Eden, the San Diego State baseball team fell victim to a four-run eighth inning in a 4-2 loss against San Diego at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Tuesday night. The Aztecs fall into 5-3, while the Toreros improve to 6-3.
Eden shined in his first collegiate start, beginning a span of 12 consecutive batters retired in the third inning before allowing a one-out single in the seventh inning. The Los Angeles native finished his outing with 6.1 innings pitched, allowing just two hits while striking out two.
With the teams locked in a scoreless tie heading to the eighth, the Toreros brought in the first runs of the game with a Adam Lopez double scoring Jeff Houghtby, who started off the inning with a single. Lopez later scored the second run of the inning on an Aztec throwing error, while a balk and another Aztec error ultimately allowed the game-determining runs to score.
Looking to cut into the lead in the ensuing frame, Mike Jarvis and Angelo Armenta were both hit by pitches in consecutive plate appearances. Joe Fitzhugh later recorded a two-out four-pitch walk to load the bases. Torero reliever Nate Walker followed with back-to-back walks allowing the Aztecs to score their first runs of the game, with Brian Leonhardt and Casey Schmitt putting up six-pitch and nine-pitch at bats in their walks, respectively.
Unfortunately for SDSU, a hard-hit line drive by Jaden Fein clipped the glove of Brown and found Torero second baseman Ripken Reyes for a force out, denying a chance of additional Aztec runs in the eighth and stranding the bases loaded.
Casey O'Sullivan (2-1) was dealt the loss, while USD's Jack Dolack (1-1) earned the win.
NOTES
- SDSU falls to 10-6 in its last 16 meetings against San Diego.
- With 6.1 shutout innings, over his first four collegiate appearances Aaron Eden owns an ERA of 0.77.
- Julian Escobedo had a 31-game on-base streak snapped. The streak marked as the longest by an Aztec since the 2015 season.
- Recording one of SDSU's four hits, Jacob Maekawa upped his season batting average to a team-best .364.
UP NEXT
SDSU begins Mountain West play this Friday, traveling to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a three-game set against Air Force. First pitch of the Aztecs-Falcons series is set for 2:00 p.m. MT/1:00 p.m. PT and will air on the Mountain West Network.
Baseball Falls to San Diego, 4-2
