IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine baseball dished out another woeful offensive Tuesday performance falling 2-1 to San Diego State in Anteater Ballpark.

Wasting No Time
San Diego State (6-2) leapt out of the gate getting two of their first three runners on base and cashing on with an RBI groundout by Brian Leonhardt for a 1-0 Aztec lead in the first.

The lead held into the fourth inning when the Aztecs struck once again, this time with two outs lacing a hit over leaping second baseman Sam Ireland and doubling their advantage, 2-0.

Tough Sledding
The Anteaters (4-4) were unable to find a run against the attack of Avery Jones, Jacob Flores, and Tre Brown who combined to allow four UCI hits. The 'Eaters weren't without their chances as they put a runner on base in every single inning on the night and in five innings got a baserunner into scoring position.

The largest threat came in the fourth as the 'Eaters put two on base and forced a pitching change. Reliever Jacob Flores immediately was called for a balk and loaded the bases, but two strikeouts preserved the 2-0 SDSU lead and thwarted any Anteater momentum.

Saving Schmitt
The Anteaters had one last gasp in an uphill climb in ninth inning facing premier closer, Casey Schmitt. A leadoff double from pinch-hitter Jacob Castro brought the team to life, and then a Jake Palmer single had the tying run on base with one out. Mike Peabody managed to stay out of a double play and score Castro on a groundout, but Schmitt bounced back to erase Adrian Damla for the last out and the victory.

Final Score: San Diego State 2, UC Irvine 1
UCI's offensive stud was again Jake Palmer who came on late for a two-hit night as he stretches his on-base streak to 16 games and continues to hit .452. Josh Sheck reached base three times on a two walks and a single.

SDSU got a three-hit night from Jaden Fein who added an RBI. Matt Rudick and Anthony Walters each had two hits with Rudick adding a run scored. Leonhardt was part of each run scoring one and driving the other in.

Power Pitching
The Anteater bullpen was a highlight putting together five scoreless innings in which Dylan Riddle, Gordon Ingebritson, Josh Ibarra, and John Vergara each put in at least an inning of work, each allowed a hit, and each recorded a strikeout with Ibarra landing three of the nine for UCI. Starter Nick Pinto went a career high four innings allowing both run in the loss along with three strikeouts.

Entering the game, the 'Eaters had remarkably not registered a double play on defense this season - just 1 of 9 schools in the country to do so. They reversed that notion rolling up three tonight to support the staff.

Aztec starter Avery Jones earned his first collegiate win after 3.1 shutout innings. Jacob Flores and Tre Brown got nine of their 14 outs by way of strikeouts.

Onward
The road leads north to the Pacific Northwest and a three-game series with the 5-2 Washington Huskies. First pitch of the opener comes in at 6:05 p.m. Friday, February 28 with Trenton Denholm back on the bump for UC Irvine.