IRVINE, Calif. – San Diego State pitcher Jonny Guzman struck out a career-high nine batters on Tuesday, but it wasn't enough as host UC Irvine pulled away for a 13-3 victory at Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark.
Despite a season-high 10 hits, the Aztecs left 10 runners on base, falling to 1-3 overall, while the Anteaters combined for 10 runs in the fifth and seventh innings to help even their record at 2-2.
Making his first collegiate start, Guzman pitched a career-long 4 1/3 innings but suffered the hard-luck loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks.
SDSU opened the scoring in the top of the second when Xavier Carter plated Tino Bethancourt with an infield single. However, UCI starter Michael Stanford prevented further damage by inducing a pop foul and a flyout to end the inning.
The Anteaters tallied single markers in each of the next three frames, taking the lead for good with an unearned run in the third. After Guzman struck out the first two hitters, Nathan Church drew a two-out walk on four consecutive pitches, advanced to second on a passed ball, and ultimately raced home courtesy of a wild pitch and a throwing error.
Guzman once again fanned the first two batters in the fourth, but UCI extended its advantage when Ben Fitzgerald belted a solo home run on the first pitch to give the host school a 3-1 advantage.
The Anteaters padded their lead with three runs in the fifth to break the contest open at 6-1. Church and Jacob Castro delivered RBI singles, while Woody Hadeen scored on a wild pitch in the interim. Previously, UCI chased Guzman after Taishi Nakawake was hit by a pitch and Hadeen drew a walk.
The Anteaters sent 11 men to the plate in the seventh, erupting for seven runs on six hits to build a commanding 13-1 lead. Thomas McCaffery and Connor McGuire both keyed the outburst by smacking two-run triples.
Cameron Wheeler (1-0), UCI's third pitcher of the evening, was credited with the victory after giving up one run on two hits and no walks to go with four strikeouts in a four-inning stint.
Four players made their debut for SDSU, including redshirt sophomore outfielder Trevor Hazelhurst entered as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth and collected his first hit in a Scarlet and Black uniform with a single to left, while freshman catcher Evan Sipe followed in the same role and was hit by a pitch. In addition, freshman right-hander Eldridge Armstrong III took the mound and pitched a scoreless eighth after taking over fellow classmate Ryan Faulks, who worked the seventh.
The Aztecs closed out the scoring in that eighth frame when Charlie Rhee ripped a two-run single up the middle to bring in Hazelhurst and Brian Leonhardt, who got aboard earlier with a base hit to right.
Leonhardt and Cole Carrigg totaled two hits apiece for the Scarlet and Black, while Castro finished with three of the Anteaters 11 hits to lead all players.
San Diego State will play 16 of its next 20 games at home, starting this weekend when it co-hosts the annual Tony Gwynn Legacy, Feb. 25-27. The Aztecs open their home slate at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Friday against Hawai'i, beginning at 6 p.m. PT. SDSU will also face Utah on both Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) to wrap up the event.
Aztecs Toppled at UC Irvine
