LOS ANGELES – San Diego State's offense was stymied for the third straight game on Saturday, as No. 25 USC claimed a 7-0 victory in the finale of a weekend series at Dedeaux Field.
The Aztecs stranded 10 runners on the afternoon, falling to 11-16 overall, while the Trojans captured their third sweep of the 2023 campaign, improving to 20-10-1 overall.
Despite managing just two hits, SDSU drew five walks and had three batters hit by pitch but could not avoid its second whitewash of the season.
The Aztecs threatened in the top of the first when Caden Miller smacked a one-out double to left, while Shaun Montoya walked. However, USC starter Eric Hammond induced a flyout to Poncho Ruiz before fanning Xavier Gonzalez.
Hammond (2-2) struck out five batters in five-plus innings, offsetting two hits and three walks to earn the victory, while relievers Caden Connolly, Fisher Johnson and Garrett Clarke helped complete the shutout.
On the flip side, Chris Canada (1-3) absorbed the loss for SDSU after yielding six runs on eight hits and two walks against two strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
The Trojans tallied two runs in their half of the first when Adrian Colon-Rosado singled home Austin Overn, while Bryce Grudzielanek scored on Cole Gabrielson's sacrifice fly.
Montoya ripped a two-out double down the right-field line in the third but was left stranded after Ruiz grounded out to end the inning.
The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the fourth when Gabrielson beat out an infield hit and ultimately crossed the plate on Nick Lopez's single to left.
USC extended its lead to 5-0 in the fifth on Overn's two-run homer to right field, which plated Connor Aoki, who led off with a single.
The Trojans added to their advantage in the sixth when Johnny Olmstead walked, stole second and later scored on Ryan Jackson's base hit to left.
Hitless since the third, the Aztecs put two runners aboard in the seventh but came up empty. Tino Bethancourt was hit by a pitch, while pinch hitter David Whittle was issued a walk. However, Johnson took over for Connolly on the mound and induced a flyout to pinch hitter Brian Leonhardt, while TJ Fondtain grounded out to second, ending the threat.
Moments later, USC accounted for the final score in the bottom of the inning when Olmstead was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, plating Overn. Previously, Overn led off with a walk and advanced on a balk, while Grudzielanek was also struck by a pitch. Following a Carson Wells groundout, Gabrielson was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Overn, Jackson and Aoki finished with two hits apiece for the Trojans, while SDSU's fourth reliever of the day, Eldridge Armstrong III, struck out the side in the eighth.
San Diego State returns to the diamond early next week when it battles UC San Diego on consecutive nights, April 10-11. The Aztecs will make the short trek across town to Triton Ballpark on Monday before the teams square off in a rematch on Tuesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Both contests are slated to begin at 6 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Blanked at No. 25 USC, 7-0
