Aztecs Defeated by UConn in Weekend Finale, 7-5

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Diego State was unable to keep pace with Connecticut on Sunday, falling by a 7-5 count in the finale of a weekend road trip at Excite Ballpark.

The Aztecs (12-13) maintained a 10-9 advantage in hits, but could not match the power of the Huskies, who smacked three home runs to hand the Scarlet and Black a second straight defeat.

Tyler Minick went yard with a pair of two-run homers for UConn (11-13), including a blast in the third, which was immediately followed by a Cam Righi solo shot, giving the Huskies a 3-1 advantage they would not relinquish.

On the flip side, Anthony Marnell IV, Zach Justice and Jake Jackson (2 runs) paced the SDSU offense with two hits apiece in the neutral-site affair.

Jackson belted his third home run of the season, a solo bomb in the second, which afforded the Aztecs a brief 1-0 lead.

Trailing 3-1, SDSU narrowed the gap in the fourth when Jackson crossed the plate on Adam Magpoc’s RBI groundout. Previously, Jackson led off with a walk and advanced on a failed pickoff attempt and Max Farrell’s sacrifice bunt.

The Huskies created some separation in the fifth on Steve Thomas’ two-run single through the left side, which brought home Minick and Nater Wachter, who earlier reached on a single and a walk, respectively.

The Aztecs responded with two markers in the sixth when Marnell knocked in Magpoc and Farrell with a single of his own, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Previously, Farrell roped a one-out double to left, while Magpoc reached on a bunt single and stole second.

However, SDSU was repeatedly stymied trying to seize the upper hand as Minick went deep with another two-run shot in the bottom of the frame, increasing the UConn advantage back to three at 7-4.

The Aztecs mustered just one additional run in the seventh when Tyce Peterson raced home on Magpoc’s second RBI groundout of the day. SDSU was poised for a big inning after loading the bases on singles by Zach Justice and Jackson sandwiched around a walk to Peterson.

However, Justice was thrown out at the plate after Farrell reached on a fielder’s choice back to the pitcher, while reliever Greg Shaw III induced another groundout to end the inning following Peterson’s score.

Zane Kelly reached on a one-out single in the eighth, but Shaw avoided danger after the Huskies turned a double play.

UConn closer Charlie Hale yielded a leadoff single to Justice in the ninth before retiring the next three batters to collect his first save of the season.

Despite allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with just one strikeout, Oliver Pudvar was credited with the victory after pitching 5 2/3 innings.

On the flip side, SDSU starter Alec Belardes absorbed the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits and four walks with six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings of work before giving way to Colton LaFave (1.2 IP, 2 R, 1 K).

The Aztecs utilized three other pitchers in the game, as the trio of Evan Miranda, Connor Shaw and Chris Canavan each recorded a strikeout to help keep the Huskies off the scoreboard for the final two innings.

San Diego State takes a brief respite from the road on Tuesday when it plays host to UC Irvine at Tony Gwynn Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. PT, and the contest will air live on the Mountain West Network.