PHOENIX – San Diego State was unable to avoid a sweep in its season-opening series, as host Arizona State escaped with a 1-0 victory in a pitcher's duel Sunday at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Aztecs (0-3) utilized six hurlers on the day, including Jonny Guzman, who made his second collegiate start, yielding three hits and three walks against five strikeouts in five innings, while Connor Abadie (1 hit) and Julian Jackson combined for a scoreless frame in the sixth.
SDSU seemed poised to dent the scoreboard in the seventh after Shaun Montoya greeted reliever Jonah Giblin with a leadoff double down the right-field line and moved to third on a wild pitch. However, ASU (3-0) prevented any damage thanks to a pair of strikeouts from Giblin and Jesse Wainscott, who entered the contest after his predecessor hit the Aztecs' Trevor Fox with a pitch.
Buoyed by their good fortune, the Sun Devils broke through with the eventual game-winning run off Omar Serrano in the bottom of the inning when Will Rogers doubled down the right-field line and promptly raced home on Luke Hill's single to left.
SDSU had additional chances to score after advancing a runner to third in each of the last two innings, but came up empty on both opportunities.
Cole Carrigg ripped a one-out double down the right-field line in the eighth and quickly stole third, but Wainscott fanned the next two batters to extinguish the threat.
Likewise in the ninth, Montoya led off with a triple on a towering fly ball to right center that caromed off the top of the wall. However, the Aztecs were stymied by Wainscott, who struck out the two subsequent hitters before inducing a groundout to end the game.
Wainscott (1-0) posted six strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings to earn the victory, while Serrano (0-1) absorbed the loss.
ASU starter Timmy Manning held the Scarlet and Black in check for 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and walk against six strikeouts.
SDSU was hitless until the sixth when Caden Miller smacked a one-out double, while Carrigg beat out a grounder deep in the hole at shortstop. However, Manning struck out TJ Fondtain, while reliever Christian Bodlovich took the mound and induced a popout.
Montoya and Carrigg both finished with a pair of hits to lead the Scarlet and Black, while Hill and Crenshaw duplicated the feat for the Sun Devils.
San Diego State returns to The Mesa to open a five-game homestand, starting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, when it plays host to CSUN at Tony Gwynn Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PT, and the contest will be aired live via the Mountain West Network.
Aztecs Edged at Arizona State, 1-0
