Late Aztec Rally Falls Short vs. New Mexico on Saturday

SAN DIEGO – Despite a furious rally, San Diego State fell short in another high-scoring affair against New Mexico, dropping a narrow 9-8 decision in the second game of a Mountain West series Saturday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

With the loss, the Aztecs (15-33, 10-13 MW) slip into a tie for fifth place in the conference standings with Air Force, while the Lobos (27-18, 14-9) remain tied with Nevada for second. 

Trailing 9-5 after UNM plated three runs in the top of the eighth, SDSU inched closer with a pair of markers in the bottom of the inning before threatening in the ninth, courtesy of Nevan Noonan’s leadoff homer to left, which narrowed the gap to 9-8.

After a groundout, Daniel Arambula tripled to left center; however, Josh Barnhouse, the Lobos fourth pitcher of the contest, induced an infield pop-up to Jake Jackson, while Zane Kelly flew out to left moments later, saddling the snakebit Aztecs with another tough defeat.

All nine batters in SDSU’s starting lineup recorded at least one hit, including Noonan, who led all players with a 3-for-5 effort, while Arambula collected two hits of his own.

Conversely, the top four batters in UNM's lineup finished with two hits apiece, including Tye Wood, Will Asby, Jordy Oriach and Ethan Ott.

The Lobos grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first when Wood drew a leadoff walk, while Oriach and Ott followed with consecutive doubles.

Later the third, the Aztecs erupted for five runs on six hits and one error after sending 10 men to the plate. Moran’s two-run single keyed the outburst, while Bates drove in another with an earlier base hit up the middle. In addition, Evan Sipe led off with a double and ultimately touched home on an errant throw past third following Evan Escobar’s bunt single, while Kelly capped the surge with a sacrifice fly, giving the host school a 5-2 advantage.

UNM began chipping away at the deficit in the fourth when Josh McAlister singled, stole second and scored on Karsen Waslefsky’s base hit to left.

Then in the fifth, the Lobos knotted the game at 5-5 on Asby’s two-run double to right-center, which plated Khalil Walker and Wood, who previously reached on a single and a walk, respectively.

The score remained deadlocked until the seventh when New Mexico jumped in front to stay on Ott’s two-out double down the left-field line, which brought in Wood, who led off with a single and later stole second.

The Lobos increased their advantage to 9-5 in the eighth with three markers on just one hit and four walks off three Aztec pitchers. After Xavier Cardenas III walked Waslefsky and Walker, Wood greeted new reliever Evan Miranda with an RBI double to left, while Asby drew another base on balls to load the bases.

Connor Shaw was summoned from the bullpen at this juncture and quickly struck out Oriach before issuing a walk to Ott, which forced in Walker. Moments later, Mansy legged out a potential double-play grounder to second, allowing Wood to cross the plate.

Jackson subsequently ignited SDSU’s rally in the bottom of the frame with a double to left before racing home on Kelly’s RBI single. Kelly, who took second on the throw, advanced to third on a passed ball, while pinch hitter Drew Rutter walked. Shortly thereafter, Kelly crossed the plate when a force play at second was muffed by Cooper Brass on Bates’ grounder up the middle.

After Shaw pitched a scoreless ninth for the host school, Noonan greeted Barnhouse with his fifth round-tripper of the season on a 2-1 pitch, while Arambula came through with a triple that fell between Wood and Walker in left-center under a heavy mist following a groundout.

However, Arambula was left stranded after Barnhouse retired the next two batters, Jackson and Kelly.

Despite giving up two runs (one earned) and one walk, UNM’s third pitcher of the game Luke Wiseman (4-0), while Aztec starter Omar Serrano (6.2 IP, 6 R) absorbed the loss (4-6).

UP NEXT
San Diego State will look to salvage the final game of its weekend series against New Mexico when the teams lock horns on Sunday at noon PT.