Aztecs Drop Series Finale vs. New Mexico

SAN DIEGO – San Diego State was unable to keep up the offensive pace Sunday in a 15-7 defeat at the hands of New Mexico in the finale of a Mountain West series under wet and windy conditions at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The teams combined for 32 hits, including 19 for the Lobos, who smacked five home runs and outscored the Aztecs 14-2 over the final five innings to erase a 5-1 deficit.

With the loss, SDSU (15-34, 10-14 MW) remains tied for fifth place in the conference standings, along with Air Force, San José State and Washington State, as the top six teams qualify for the MW Championships later this month.

Conversely, UNM (28-18, 15-9 MW) moves into a tie atop the league along with Nevada and Fresno State after the Wolf Pack swept the Bulldogs in Reno this weekend.

Daniel Arambula led the Aztecs with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with one RBI and a run scored, while Xavier Farnum collected a pair of hits, highlighted by a two-run double in the fourth, as the Scarlet and Black put up a four-spot in the inning.  In addition, Jake Jackson and Evan Escobar contributed RBI singles in the frame to give the host school a 5-1 advantage.

The Lobos narrowed the gap to 5-4 in the top of the fifth when Karsen Waslefsky led off with a solo home run, while Will Asby later added a two-run double.

SDSU extended the margin to 6-4 in its half of the inning when CJ Moran reached on a fielder’s choice and circled the bases on Arambula’s double to left.

However, UNM answered with another trio of markers in the sixth to vault in front for good. Cooper Brass ignited the surge with a solo home run, while Khalil Walker and Asby followed with RBI singles.

Leading 7-6, the Lobos began to pull away in the seventh, thanks to Caleb Herd’s run-scoring single with two outs, while Tye Wood and Asby both went yard to lead off the eighth, giving the visitors a 10-6 advantage.

The Aztecs countered in the bottom of the eighth when Finley Bates doubled home pinch hitter Drew Rutter, who reached on a hot smash to first with two outs.

However, the Lobos scored five runs on three hits and two errors in the ninth to put the contest out of reach, with Ethan Ott’s three-run homer accounting for the final margin.

Asby went 5-for-5 with four RBIs to lead all players, while Wood (3 RBIs), Waslefsky and Josh McAlister collected three hits apiece for UNM.

Despite giving up one run on two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings, Presley Monteforte (1-2) was credited with the victory after relieving starter Ryan Castillo (3.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R) with two outs in the fourth.

In the opposite dugout, SDSU starter Garvey Rumary (2-6) matched his career high with seven strikeouts but was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs in six innings.

UP NEXT
San Diego State closes out the non-conference portion of its regular-season schedule on Tuesday, May 6, when it plays host to CSUN, starting at 6 p.m. PT.