Considering the public relations mess at San Diego State right now -- a bunch of students recently caught by feds, selling cocaine and all -- it might not be most politically correct to say that Stephen Strasburg was dealing Thursday at Miller Field.

"He's a major league pitcher, he could pitch there right now," BYU coach Vance Law said of the 6-foot-4 sophomore. "I have no doubt about that. I saw a lot worse guys in my playing days who were there for a number of years. This guy is something special."

The Cougars (19-32, 7-12 Mountain West) had to be perfect to even have a chance, and they knew it. There were bright spots for the home team, just not nearly enough to get Strasburg much off rhythm let alone threaten beating him.

He wound up allowing two hits with 15 strikeouts, the sixth consecutive start the Division I leader has recorded double digits.

The Aztecs didn't score until a 3-spot in the fourth inning. Twice they stranded the bases loaded with no damage on the scoreboard.

But Strasburg, who hit 98 mph and can mix speeds and angles at ease, didn't even allow a hit until the fourth inning.

SDSU (29-21, 15-7 MWC) slowly unnerved BYU starter Jordan Muir (four runs, six hits in seven innings). By the time SDSU scored, the Cougars hadn't even had that many good opportunities to get on base. Kasey Ko was robbed on a nice dive-and-throw by the shortstop in the second. A line drive from Brandon Relf went foul in the third, and Bryce Ayoso had a deep fly caught easily shortly after.

Finally, Kent Walton ended the goose-egg fest with a single to rightfield with one out in the fourth. That left runners on the corners and Strasburg looking human.

He stayed that way for one more pitch, a wild one that scored Sean McNaughton from third (his journey started as BYU's first base runner, off a fielding error from the second baseman).

Regarded as a future high first-round draft pick when he's eligible for the major league draft in 2009, Strasburg improved to 8-1 by returning to domination. It's been a smooth transition from closer last season to starter now, as 756 fans witnessed on a perfect spring night.

BYU shook him up in a March meeting, and he wasn't even the pitcher of record. He trailed 3-1 when he left that game after six innings, although his team won in 14.

Hey, at least the Cougars did better (sort of) than Utah. Strasburg pitched a complete-game, 1-0 win in which he had 23 strikeouts and allowed just one hit April 11.

BYU has two games left with SDSU, tonight (7 p.m.) and Saturday (1). Law hopes one opponents' dominance doesn't dictate the rest of the series.

Though the ninth inning was a mess for the Cougars, as they allowed four runs and three of their five errors.

Two others came in the fourth. SDSU also hit a pair of solo home runs. And Strasburg needed just 127 pitches.

"I felt like if we go out there and compete, and Jordan gives us a good ballgame, we have a chance to win," Law said. "And I really thought we still did. Unfortunately we didn't take care of the baseball."