Box Score Feb. 17, 2015 Box Score | Photo Gallery 
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Sophomore left-handed pitcher Brenton Arriaga tossed five scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out three, but the LMU bullpen allowed six runs in the sixth inning as LMU (3-1) eventually dropped a 7-6 decision on the road at San Diego State (4-0) on Tuesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The native of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. departed the game with a 5-0 lead.
Freshmen Billy Wilson and Sean Watkins continued stellar starts to their LMU careers, with each belting their first career home runs. Wilson finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a solo homer in the fifth inning, while Watkins was 1-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI, including a two-run homer in the third.
Sophomore David Fletcher turned in a three-hit game to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, finishing 3-for-5 with a run scored and three stolen bases. He has now hit safely in 31 of his last 32 games overall dating back to the 2014 season. Over the 19-game hitting streak, he is batting .413 (31-for-75) with 12 runs scored, seven RBI, two doubles, a triple and 11 stolen bases.
Leading 5-0 headed to the bottom of the sixth, LMU elected to call upon its bullpen to take it the rest of the way. Tyler Cohen was first out of the bullpen, but he did not record an out after facing four batters, walking two, hitting one, and allowing one hit before being tagged with four runs. Senior Sean Buckle was summoned next out of the pen, as he lasted a third of an inning, surrendering two runs on one hit, a walk and a balk. Michael Silva walked three and allowed three hits, including what proved to be the game-winning RBI-single to Andrew Brown with two out in the seventh, before being tagged with the loss and falling to 0-1. Steven Pallares collected a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot, with both coming in the six-run sixth inning as San Diego State sent 11 men to the plate. Pallares led off that inning with a double before driving in the sixth and go-ahead run in his second at bat.
Overall, LMU pitchers walked seven batters and hit one over the eight innings, including walking four and hitting one in the six-run sixth.
Down by one headed to the top of the ninth, LMU had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game and force a bottom of the ninth. Fletcher reached with a one-out single to get the momentum going before Tanner Donnels drew a hit-by-pitch to put two men aboard. The Lions, who stole six bases on the night, successfully executed a double-steal to put runners at second and third with only one out, but SDSU called to the bullpen and brought in CJ Saylor. Saylor answered the call, striking out Watkins and Ted Boeke to seal the victory and record his second save of the year.
The back-to-back strikeouts to end the game were the 11th and 12th for Aztec pitchers on Tuesday night.
LMU will look to bounce back on Friday when it opens a three-game series with St. Joseph's at 6 p.m.