Campus briefs: Utah

BASEBALL: Despite out-hitting San Diego State 10-8, the Utah baseball team fell to the Aztecs on Friday evening, 8-6, at San Diego.

Nick Kuroczko gave Utah a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run before San Diego State took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Jomel Torres hit a bases-loaded, two-run single in the inning for the Aztecs.

Each team scored a run in the second to leave the SDSU lead at 5-2. Utah cut into the lead with a two-run fourth inning. Zach Jones hit a two-RBI single with Jo Jo Sharrar and Nik Gumeson on base, cutting the lead to 5-4.

Three straight hits to lead off the seventh inning that culminated in a two-run double by Blair Moore increased San Diego State's lead to 7-4 before the Utes rallied in the top of the eighth.

Utah scored two runs in the top of the eighth to make it 7-6. Rick Cornu led off the inning with a double, and three straight hits from C.J. Cron, Gumeson and Sharrar sent one run across the plate. Austin Shackelford walked to drive in a second run, but the Utes left the bases loaded after a diving catch by Ryan O'Sullivan robbed Jones of a bloop single into center field.

Jordan Van Hoosier gave the Aztecs an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run.

Cornu, who led Utah with two hits, attempted to get something going in the top of the ninth with a one-out single. Kuroczko and Gumeson each walked to load the bases before pitcher Robert Alcala induced pinch-hitter Kevin Hussey into a groundout to end the game.

Utah pitcher Jordan Whatcott pitched 41/3 innings, striking out five and giving up five runs. He falls to 4-5 on the year. Stephen Streich pitched 32/3 innings in relief with five strikeouts.

Aztec All-American pitcher Addison Reed, who pitched seven innings and struck out 11, improves to 5-1 on the year. San Diego State used six pitchers in the win.

The Utes and Aztecs play the second game of the three-game series today at 2 p.m. MDT.

SOFTBALL: Designated player Joni Cook went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and starting pitcher Ashley Smuda registered her ninth complete game of the year to lead the University of Utah to its first Mountain West Conference victory of the season, 10-2 in five innings, Friday against New Mexico at Lobo Field in Albuquerque, N.M.

The first seven hitters in the Ute lineup had hits, with Cook and Kara Foster posting multiple-hit performances. Cook, who is normally a pitcher for the Utes, was 2-for-3 on the day with three RBIs and one run scored. Foster went 2-for-3 as well and scored one run.

Smuda improved to 15-10 in 2010 with a five-inning complete game, allowing one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. Smuda now has nine complete games this year and 35 for her career.

The Utes and Lobos face off again today at noon.