SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – San Diego State concluded its season-opening weekend on a sour note Sunday after dropping a 6-3 decision to California at the MLB4 Tournament at Salt River Fields.
The Aztecs (1-2) struck in the top of the first on Brian Leonhardt's two-run homer, impaling the ball in the berm above the fence in right field. SDSU subsequently maintained the upper hand until the bottom of the fifth when the Golden Bears (3-0) erupted for four runs to take the lead for good.
For the third straight game, the Aztec pitching staff recorded double-digit strikeouts, as four hurlers combined to fan 10 Cal Batters, including a career-high six by starter Jacob Flores.
Despite his strikeout total, Flores (0-1) absorbed the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks. The SDSU left-hander nursed a slim 2-1 lead until the fateful fifth, allowing one run in that span on Hance Smith's RBI single in the second.
However, the Bears put the first two runners on in the bottom of the fifth, when lead-off hitter Jag Burden reached on an error and promptly advanced to third on Dylan Beavers' base hit up the middle. Moments later, Burden raced home on Nathan Martorella's groundout, which not only tied the score but chased Flores in the process.
Caleb Lomavita greeted SDSU reliever Ricky Tibbett with a single to right, while Cole Elvis followed with a three-run homer, providing California a 5-2 lead it would not relinquish.
The Aztecs also used the long ball to trim the deficit the sixth when Poncho Ruiz went yard with a solo shot to left field, but the Scarlet and Black could draw no closer.
The Bears wrapped up the scoring in the eighth when Carson Crawford and Burden hit back-to-back doubles. Cole Carrigg led off with an infield single in the ninth, but closer Mitchell Scott induced a flyout and a game-ending double play to collect the save.
Scott entered in place of reliever Connor Sullivan, who held SDSU scoreless in 2 1/3 innings, yielding just one hit and one walk after spelling starter Joseph King with two outs in the sixth.
Thanks to Cal's outburst in the fifth, King (1-0) was credited with the victory, as the Bears right-hander struck out six batters against four hits and one walk in 5 2/3 innings.
Collectively, Cal finished with 10 hits on the afternoon, including two apiece by Crawford and Elvis, while Lomavita scored a pair of runs in the victory.
Conversely, SDSU totaled six hits on the day, including a lead-off double by Tyler Glowacki in the fifth. However, Glowacki was promptly erased on the basepaths after Shaun Montoya's tapper back to the mound resulted in a fielder's choice, derailing a potential scoring chance.
San Diego State returns to the diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 22, when it travels up the freeway to Orange County for a clash with UC Irvine, starting at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Fall to Golden Bears at MLB4 Tourney, 6-3
