LONG BEACH, Calif. – Despite a 9-7 advantage in hits, San Diego State was dealt a 12-5 defeat by host Long Beach State on Tuesday in a non-conference clash at Blair Field.
After the Aztecs (11-25) plated two markers in the first, the Dirtbags (19-14-1) responded with seven runs on just two hits in their half of the frame, capitalizing on four walks, three hit batters and an error to take the lead for good.
In all, SDSU issued 12 walks and struck five batters on the night, while Long Beach State turned two early double plays and scored the final four runs of the contest to extinguish any comeback hopes and sweep the two-game season series.
Jake Jackson led all players with a career-high three hits for the Scarlet and Black, while fellow freshman Zane Kelly added two hits of his own, but it wasn't enough.
In the opposing dugout, Cole Santander went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored to pace the Dirtbags, while John Newman Jr., Armando Briseno and Justin Roulston each finished with two RBIs in the victory.
Despite yielding four runs on seven hits and two walks without a strikeout in four innings, Van Larson (2-0) was credited with his second win of the year, both against the Aztecs, while relievers Nathen Morris (1 unearned run), Nick Williams and Jonathan Largaesparda combined for eight strikeouts over the final five frames to help keep the visitors at bay.
Conversely, Chris Canavan (0-3) absorbed the loss after getting just two outs in the fateful first.
Aidan Russell, SDSU's second of four relievers struck out four batters before giving way to Michael Caruso with one out in the fifth, while Connor Abadie and Dylan Hawkes pitched scoreless frames in the seventh and eighth, respectively.
Trailing 7-2, the Aztecs narrowed the gap with a pair of runs in the fourth when Finley Bates' RBI single brought home Josh Quezada, while Brady Lavoie doubled and eventually scored on Shaun Montoya's fielder's choice grounder to second.
After the Dirtbags added a marker in their half of the inning, SDSU trimmed the margin to three once again in the fifth at 8-5 when Jackson raced home on Evan Sipe's sacrifice fly. Previously, Jackson led off with a walk and took second on Kelly's infield hit followed by an LBSU throwing error.
However, the Dirtbags quickly answered with a pair of tallies in the bottom of the fifth on Santander's RBI double followed by Alex Champagne's sacrifice fly, and the Aztecs never threatened again.
Then in the sixth, LBSU closed out the scoring on consecutive run-scoring doubles by Santander and Newman Jr. with two outs.
UP NEXT
San Diego State remains out of conference this weekend to battle another Big West opponent, No. 15/17 UC Irvine, in a three-game series, April 19-21. Friday's series opener and Sunday's finale will be contested at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, California, while Saturday's encounter will be held at Tony Gwynn Stadium on the SDSU campus.
Aztecs Toppled at Long Beach State
