Aztecs Blanked by Utah at Tony Gwynn Legacy

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State had its two-game winning streak snapped in an 8-0 loss to Utah on Friday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

Facing their second opponent of the 10th annual Tony Gwynn Legacy, the Aztecs (3-3) were unable to solve the Utes’ pitching combo of Colter McAnelly and Lucas Boeson, who combined on the shutout.

McAnelly (1-0) posted 10 strikeouts in seven innings, allowing just four hits and one walk for his first victory of the season, while Boeson retired the Scarlet and Black in order over the final two frames, including a trio of punchouts.

Offensively, Utah out-hit the Aztecs 14-4, led by Kaden Carpenter, who paced all players with four hits and four RBIs. In addition, Tyler Quinn, Jake Long and Derek Smith provided ample support as well with two hits and two runs apiece.

The Utes (5-0) scored six of their eight runs with two outs, including three in the fifth to break open a 3-0 ballgame.

In that decisive frame, Carpenter drew a two-out walk and stole second before racing home on Austen Roellig’s RBI single. Moments later, Roellig circled the bases following a steal of his own and Smith’s double to left-center, which chased SDSU starter Omar Serrano.

Garvey Rumary took the mound at this juncture and promptly issued a walk to Santino Panaro, while Zakye Hawkins was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shortly thereafter, Matt Flaharty drew a bases on balls to plate Smith and extend the visitors’ lead to 6-0.

The Utes added single markers off the bat of Carpenter to account for the final score on a run-scoring single in the sixth and an RBI double in the eighth, respectively.

Serrano (0-1) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits and a pair of walks in 4 2/3 innings, during which he fanned five batters.

Meanwhile, Rumary logged a career-long 4 1/3 innings, yielding two runs on five hits and three walks against three strikeouts.

Utah opened the scoring in the first when Quinn crossed the plate on Carpenter’s single through the left side. Previously, Quinn singled through the left side with two outs before advancing on a walk to Long.

Following a liner to center and a groundout to short, misfortune met the Aztecs in the third when Long and Carpenter smacked consecutive doubles.

The Utes increased their advantage to 3-0 in the third when Flaharty singled home Smith following consecutive groundouts. Earlier, Smith reached on an infield single to third.

The Aztecs had a chance to break the ice in the second when Kelly ripped a double down the left-field line but was left stranded following a pair of strikeouts.

Kelly also walked in the seventh and took third on Evan Sipe’s single to right before Boeson induced a grounder to end the inning.

Jake Jackson and CJ Moran collected SDSU’s other two hits on the night.

The Aztecs resume their homestand on Saturday when No. 21 UC Santa Barbara invades The Mesa for a showdown beginning at 6 p.m. PT, with the game airing live on the Mountain West Network.

The Gauchos (4-1) defeated Seattle 9-3 on Saturday at Triton Ballpark in La Jolla.