February 5, 1999
PEORIA, Ariz. - The San Diego State baseball team (0-1) was defeated, 11-7, by New Mexico State (1-5) this evening in the season opener for the Aztecs. It was SDSU's initial game in the Showdown in the Desert being played in Peoria, Arizona. The Aggies won the game in the eighth on a grand slam by junior Philip Pawlowski.
Righthander Aaron Harang started on the mound for the Aztecs, and was staked to a 6-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth. However, he surrendered five runs in the bottom of that frame as the Aggies came back to tie the game at 7-7 after seven innings. That set the stage for Pawlowski's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth which won it for the Aggies.
New Mexico State's Luke Sullivan (1-0) picked up the win while Aztec junior Jermey Cook, who came on in the eighth inning took the loss. Third baseman Paul Lockhart and third baseman John Pashales had two hits apiece for the Aztecs.
The game started two hours late due to rains throughout the day, and the SDSU-NMSU contest was played in intermittent showers.
Tournament play continues on Saturday (Feb. 6) as San Diego State meets Kansas State at 6:00 p.m.
New Mexico State 11, San Diego State 7 San Diego State 0 3 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 -- 7 10 0New Mexico State 0 0 0 0 0 5 2 4 x -- 11 12 3
Harang, Caron (6), Cook (8) and ManfredUzzell, Littauer (6), Sullivan (8) and Roberson.
HR: NMSU-Pawlowski (8th-three on)W-Sullivan (1-0)L-Cook (0-1)