Aztecs Fall Short at No. 13/13 USC, 7-4
San Diego State found itself in a tight battle with No. 13 USC on Tuesday but was unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities in a 7-4 defeat at Dedeaux Field in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES – San Diego State found itself in a tight battle with No. 13 USC on Tuesday but was unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities in a 7-4 defeat at Dedeaux Field.
The Aztecs (11-10) outhit the Trojans, 8-7, but stranded 10 runners for the game, including eight between the third and sixth innings, stifling a chance for another victory over a nationally ranked opponent.
Tyce Peterson led the Scarlet and Black with three hits, while Zach Justice added two hits of his own, but it wasn’t enough, as USC (20-1) plated three runs with two outs in the eighth inning to break a 4-4 deadlock and escape with the victory.
The Trojans utilized five pitchers on the evening, with their third reliever Diego Velazquez (2-0) pocketed the win, while Adam Troy notched his seventh save of the season.
The Aztecs opened the scoring with a pair of runs in their first trip to plate on consecutive fielder’s choice RBIs by Zach Justice and Adam Magpoc. Previously, Jabin Trosky led off with a single to center, while Max Farrell walked, as both runners advanced on a passed ball. Moments later, Peterson drew another walk to load the bases.
However, USC starter Chase Herrell limited the damage by inducing a pair of grounders to Justice and Magpoc, with Trosky and Farrell crossing the plate successively.
The Trojans responded with four markers on three hits and two struck batters in the bottom of the first off SDSU starter Bryce McKnight. Kevin Takeuchi provided the big knock with a three-run homer, while Augie Lopez followed with an RBI double.
Stung, McKnight settled into a groove, keeping USC off the scoreboard for next five innings, allowing just two hits and one walk during that stretch while posting four strikeouts.
In the meantime, the Aztecs put two men aboard in four consecutive frames from the third and sixth but could not convert.
In the fourth, Jake Jackson singled through the left side and advanced on a wild pitch, while Dawson Santana walked. Both runners advanced on Zane Kelly’s subsequent groundout, but Gavin Lauriddsen replaced Herrell at this juncture and induced another grounder by Trosky to end the threat.
SDSU also advanced a runner to third in the sixth when Santana singled to second and moved to third on a wild pitch and stolen base. In the meantime, Sax Matson took over for Lauridsen on the mound and fanned Kelly before issuing a walk to Trosky. However, Matson avoided danger by receiving a flyout to right by Farrell.
SDSU ended its scoring drought in the seventh when Peterson reached on a leadoff single to center and Justice followed with a double to right center, as both runners raced home on consecutive sacrifice flies by Magpoc and Anthony Marnell IV.
With the score knotted at 4-4, the Aztecs found themselves on the proverbial ropes in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Isaac Cadena led off with a triple. However, reliever Aidan Russell, who retired the side in order in the sixth, remained unfazed, striking out Abbrie Covarrubias and Maximo Martinez before getting out the jam thanks to Adrian Lopez’s groundout to third.
USC conjured up some late magic in the eighth when Takeuchi led off with a walk and Andrew Lamb was hit by a pitch. Russell seemed poised to escape another quandary after Jack Basseer fouled out on bunt attempt, while Augie Lopez flew out to left. However, Maddox Riske and Cadena drew consecutive walks, forcing in Takeuchi with the go-ahead run, while Covarrubias followed with a single through the right side to bring home Lamb and Riske, putting the host school in front for good.
Justice was issued a two-out walk in the ninth but was left stranded after Troy received a pop-out to shortstop to end the game.
Velazquez (3 K) and Troy kept the Aztecs off the board for the final 2 2/3 innings, while Russell (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
San Diego State continues its road swing this weekend when it travels north to Silicon Valley for two non-conference games apiece against San José State (March 20-21) and Connecticut (March 21-22) at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, California.