SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Dons hung around but were unable to overcome an early hole as their offense struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities in a 4-2 loss to San Diego State on Monday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
 
"We're pressing a little bit, trying a little too hard," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "We didn't get the pitches we wanted and couldn't come up with the big hit. It was a close game, but we misplayed a bunt and bunt coverage on another play in the eighth that took us out of the game. We didn't hit well enough. We pitched pretty well at times, but just got into some trouble and the game got away from us."
 
Trailing 2-0 after the second frame, USF (14-15) got a solo home run from Matt Sinatro in the third inning and an RBI single by Harrison Bruce in the fifth, but were unable to take the lead.
 
Allen Smoot went 2-for-4 for the Dons and Riley Helland scored a run.
 
After a 1-2-3 first inning, the Aztecs (20-9) got to USF starter Sam Granoff with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Chase Calabuig drove in the first run with an RBI single, followed by an infield single from Dean Nevarez that pushed across the second run.
 
Granoff was relieved by right-hander Joey Carney, who also enjoyed a flawless first inning before allowing an RBI double by Calabuig in the bottom of the fourth that put San Diego State up 3-1.
 
In the Dons' half of the fifth, an error on a pickoff attempt by SDSU pitcher Harrison Pyatt helped put Helland in scoring position after he had singled, setting up Bruce's two-out run-scoring base hit three batters later that cut the deficit to one.
 
However, that would be as close as USF would get as the Aztecs plated an insurance run in the eighth on Jordan Verdon's sacrifice fly that was setup by a pair of back-to-back bunt singles that put runners in scoring position.
 
Granoff (1-3) suffered the loss with two innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
The Dons return home after their eight-game road stretch to host Saint Mary's this weekend. The series will open with a 3 p.m. contest on Friday, followed by 1 p.m. matchups on Saturday and Sunday from Benedetti Diamond.