Aztecs Stumble at UC Irvine, 5-2
San Diego State was dealt its first loss of the 2026 campaign in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of UC Irvine on Wednesday at a chilly Anteater Ballpark in Irvine, California.
IRVINE, Calif. – San Diego State was dealt its first loss of the 2026 campaign in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of UC Irvine on Wednesday at a chilly Anteater Ballpark.
UCI erased a 1-0 deficit with a four-run outburst in the fourth inning to help key its victory and remain unbeaten on the year at 4-0.
The Aztecs (3-1) were limited to six hits on the night, including two apiece by Zane Kelly and Jabin Trosky, as both sides utilized five pitchers.
SDSU drew first blood in the third when Zane Kelly led off with a triple off the right-field fence and later scored on Dawson Santana’s groundout to short.
Making his first collegiate start, Aztec pitcher Alec Belardes retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before running into trouble in the fourth when he allowed four runs on four hits and one walk.
Tommy Farmer tripled to left and later crossed the plate on Rowen Felsch’s base hit through the right side following a strikeout and a walk to James Castagnola.
Castagnola, who took third on the previous single, promptly raced home on a passed ball, while Kai Smith followed with a triple of his own to the gap in left center and ultimately scored on Noah Alvarez’s sacrifice fly.
An Arizona State transfer, Belardes (0-1) struck out a career-high eight batters, including two in a scoreless fifth, which offset a pair of hits. However, the Scarlet and Black was unable to rally, saddling the SDSU sophomore with the hard-luck loss.
Conversely, UCI starter Jack Ross (1-0) was credited with the victory after yielding one run on two hits with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
The score remained unchanged until the seventh when the Anteaters tacked on a run following consecutive singles by Zach Fjelstand, Farmer and Alonso Reyes, giving the host school a 5-1 cushion.
UCI seemed poised to extend its advantage; however, Issac Araiza took the hill at this juncture and stranded the two remaining runners at second and third with strikeouts of Castagnola and Felsch.
The Aztecs threatened in the ninth when Tyce Peterson and Zach Justice reached on consecutive singles against former SDSU pitcher Peyton Rodgers. Following a groundout, pinch hitter Anthony Marnell IV drew a walk to load the bases. Kelly knocked in Peterson with another groundout, but Rodgers prevented further damage with a strikeout to end the game.
UCI was paced by Reyes, Farmer and Efren Ortega, who collected two hits apiece in the win.
For the fourth straight game, Aztec pitchers recorded double-digit strikeouts, finishing with 10 on Wednesday, including two by Connor Abadie, who retired the side in order in the sixth.
San Diego State returns home to face Brigham Young in its opener of the 2026 Tony Gwynn Legacy on Friday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. PT. The Aztecs-Cougars showdown from Tony Gwynn Stadium will air live on the Mountain West Network.