SAN DIEGO – Playing its first game after a six-day weather-influenced hiatus, San Diego State was unable to keep pace against visiting UConn on Thursday, falling 10-2 in the first game of a weekend series at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
The Huskies (10-4) broke a 2-2 tie with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before pulling away with a combined six tallies in the seventh and eighth to put the game out of reach.
The Aztecs' (4-9) offense was supplied by Irvin Weems and Caden Miller, who belted their first home runs of the season, but they weren't enough to prevent a fourth straight defeat.
UConn pitcher Ian Cooke (2-2) overcame those two solo blasts, recording 13 straight outs before giving up a walk to Drew Giannini and an infield single to Miller with two gone in the seventh. The Huskies' starter countered five hits and a pair of walks with six strikeouts en route to the victory, while Devin Kirby (1.1 IP) and Jude Abbadessa (1.0 IP) each fanned two batters apiece in subsequent relief duty.
Conversely, SDSU utilized six pitchers on the night, including Jonny Guzman (0-1), who tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with just one strikeout. However, the Aztec starter was charged with the go-ahead run in the fourth when Ryan Daniels roped an RBI double off reliever Brian Leonhardt with two outs.
Previously, Morton lifted a double to the gap in right-center field off Guzman, who exited at this juncture, while Matt Garbowski drew a walk off Leonhardt.
Nursing a slim 3-2 advantage, the Huskies padded their lead with an unearned run in the fifth after a pair of SDSU throwing errors with two outs. Jake Studley reached on one of those miscues and promptly took second before crossing the plate on another wild throw following Luke Broadhurst's single to third base.
Studley later gave the visitors some added insurance with a two-run double in seventh before driving in two more runners with a bloop single in the eighth.
Studley was one of four UConn players to finish with two hits, joining Broadhurst, Daniels and Dominic Freeburger, while Ben Huber smacked a two-run homer to center in the third.
Along with Miller, TJ Fondtain totaled two hits to share the team lead for the Aztecs.
SDSU reliever Ricky Tibbett posted four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work but was charged with all four runs (three earned) during the Huskies' outburst in the seventh.
San Diego State continues its series against UConn when the two sides tangle in game two on Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Upended by UConn, 10-2
