LOS ANGELES – San Diego State fell short for the second straight night in its weekend series at No. 25 USC, as the Trojans pulled away for a 7-2 victory on Friday at Dedeaux Field.
With the loss, the Aztecs slip to 11-15 on the season, while USC raises its record to 19-10-1, extending its winning streak against the Scarlet and Black to six in a row.
The two teams were locked in a pitcher's duel for the first half of the contest as the host school nursed a slim 2-1 lead.
SDSU scored in its first trip to the plate when Caden Miller singled and circled the bases on Shaun Montoya's ensuing base hit that was bobbled by Trojan center fielder Austin Overn. However, Montoya was subsequently caught stealing, setting an ominous tone for the rest of the game.
USC knotted the score on Cole Gabrielson's solo homer in the second before taking the lead for good at 2-1 in the fourth when Carson Wells crossed the plate on Johnny Olmstead sacrifice fly with two outs. Wells led off the latter inning with a double to left and advanced to third on a passed ball, resulting in an unearned run.
SDSU experienced additional misfortune in the sixth when the Trojans tallied two more unearned markers to increase their advantage to 4-1. Overn led off with a base hit through the right side and Bryce Grudzielanek followed with a bunt single, while Wells struck out. However, Overn and Grudzielanek managed to cross the plate moments later on catcher Poncho Ruiz throwing error to third base on a double steal situation.
The Aztecs trimmed the deficit to 4-2 thanks to Tino Bethancourt's solo blast in the top of the seventh, which marked his third round-tripper of the year.
However, USC gave itself some additional separation in the seventh on Grudzielanek's two-run single with two outs, while Nick Lopez's solo homer to right in the eighth closed out the scoring.
SDSU starter TJ Fondtain (3-2) suffered the hard-luck loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk against seven strikeouts in six innings of work.
Trojan starter Caden Aoki (2-0) matched Fondtain's output with seven strikeouts of his own in six innings, yielding one unearned run on three hits and two walks en route to the victory. After allowing Bethancourt's bomb in the seventh, Josh Blum gave way to Kyle Wisch, who started the eighth and tossed the final two frames, issuing just one walk.
The Aztecs put two additional runners aboard during Aoki's stint; however, after a leadoff single in the third, Cade Martinez was picked off at first, while Miller was caught stealing in the fourth following a leadoff walk.
Gabrielson (3 RBIs) and Lopez finished with two hits apiece to lead USC.
The two sides conclude their non-conference series on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Fall Short at No. 25 USC, 7-2
