Aztecs' Win Streak Snapped in 8-4 Setback at UC San Diego

LA JOLLA, Calif. – San Diego State had its 11-game winning streak halted on Tuesday after dropping an 8-4 decision to UC San Diego in a non-conference clash at Triton Ballpark.

Playing its final midweek game of the season, the Aztecs (30-19) were unable to complete the comeback after the Tritons raced to an 8-0 lead through five innings.

SDSU was limited to five hits for the contest, including two by Jabin Trosky, while Jake Jackson launched a solo home run, his 12th of the season to tie for the team lead.

In addition, UCSD capitalized on two Aztec errors to help even the season series at one game apiece.

Both teams employed six pitchers on the night, including the SDSU trio of Nick Falla (1.0 IP, 1 K), Colton LaFave (0.2 IP, 1 K) and Issac Araiza (1.1 IP, 2 K), who kept the Tritons off the scoreboard for the final three innings.

Connor Etnire (5-0), UCSD’s second hurler of the game, was credited with the victory after tossing three scoreless frames, offsetting one hit and one walk with a trio of strikeouts, while starter Alito McBean (0-1) absorbed the loss for the Aztecs.

The Tritons benefited from a throwing error in the second to grab a 2-0 lead they would not relinquish. With two runners in scoring position, Shane Cannon reached on a tapper back to the mound, but McBean threw wildly past catcher Gage Adams trying to nail Alex Leopard at the plate, who broke from third on the play, while Delshaun Lanier subsequently raced home from second.

UCSD increased its advantage to 4-0 when Addison Klepsch walked to lead off the third before circling the bases on a triple to the gap in right center by Gabe Camacho, who crossed the plate shortly thereafter on Lanier’s infield single down the third-base line.

Camacho gave the host school a 7-0 cushion with a three-run homer in the fourth, plating Nathaniel Widelski and Klepsch, who reached on a throwing error and drew a walk, respectively.

Then in the fifth, Lanie tallied the Tritons’ eighth run of the game after racing home on Cannon’s groundout to the pitcher.

SDSU finally broke its scoring drought in the seventh with three runs on two hits and a walk. Trosky roped a leadoff single up the middle and advanced when Max Farrell drew a base on balls. Moments later, Adam Magpoc drove in Trosky with a solid single to right, while Anthony Marnell IV was hit by a pitch.

Farrell eventually crossed the plate when Adams reached on a fielder’s choice at third, while Magpoc sprinted home on Nate Lopez’s sacrifice fly to right.

The Aztecs narrowed the gap to 8-4 in the eighth when Jackson belted a solo homer to left center on his first swing against UCSD reliever Jake Villar for his 12th round-tripper of the season. Trosky soon followed with a single, but the Scarlet and Black was unable to draw closer, as Villar induced a pop foul and a flyout to prevent further damage.

Then in the ninth, Devon King took the mound and struck out the side to end the game.

Lanier and Camacho led the Tritons with two hits each, with the latter posting a game-high four RBIs.

San Diego State will look to maintain its grip on first place in the Mountain West this weekend when it plays host to San José State for three conference games, May 8-10, at Tony Gwynn Stadium in the Aztecs’ final home series of the regular season.