Strasburg missed last week's start because of a bad cold that led to an ear infection. He returned last night more dominant than ever, pitching a one hitter against Utah that included a school record 23 strikeouts in the Aztecs' 1-0 Mountain West Conference victory at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

"I've seen a lot of baseball," said SDSU coach Tony Gwynn. "I have never seen anything like that."

Strasburg started strong, striking out the side in the first, and got stronger, striking out the side in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth. In the ninth, Strasburg hopped off the mound and pumped his fist after striking out Utah's Jesse Shriner to end the game.

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Strasburg retired the first nine hitters before Utah's Corey Shimada walked to lead off the fourth inning. Strasburg didn't allow a hit until Michael Beltran led off the sixth with a high chopper that got under the glove of SDSU second baseman Garett Green for a single to center. The only other balls Utah (13-15, 3-3 MWC) put in play came on a groundout to first base in the second inning and sacrifice bunts in the sixth (after Beltran's single) and the ninth (after Strasburg hit Shimada with a pitch).

Strasburg broke the SDSU record of 18 strikeouts, set by John Hemmerly in 1988, as well as the MWC record of 17, set by SDSU's Marcos Mendoza in 2001.

Hurts that much more when you lose by 1-0

23 ks against guys using aluminum bats is pretty crazy.