March 24, 2001
San Diego - New Mexico scored four runs in the sixth inning and held on to defeat San Diego State, 5-4, in a game played at the Albuquerque Sports Stadium Saturday evening.
The loss ended the Aztecs' win streak at six games and dropped them to 16-10 on the season and 5-3 in Mountain West Conference play. However, they remain tied atop the league standings as both Utah and Brigham Young lost Saturday afternoon. New Mexico moved its record to 13-21 overall, 3-5 in the MWC
The Lobos, down 2-1 after five innings, broke on top in the sixth, combining four hits, a walk, and an SDSU error for four runs to take a 5-2 lead. The Aztecs fought back with single runs in the eighth and ninth, but ended the game with the tying run on second base in the person of Brian Manfred who had doubled home Andy Litteral with two out.
Junior Marcos Mendoza cruised though the first five innings, allowing only one run on one hit and striking out five before running into trouble in the sixth. The loss dropped his record to 2-4. UNM's David Young picked up his second straight win to improve to 2-4 while reliever Jeff Perez recorded his fourth save of the year.
Aztec second baseman Carlo Cota continued his hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Cota went 3-for-3 in the series opener Friday evening. Darrell Bowles, getting a rare start at first base, went 2-for-4, and it was his two-out double in the third that staked San Diego State to a 2-0 lead. Outfielder Anthony Gwynn also had a pair of hits for the Aztecs
SDSU and New Mexico conclude their three game series Sunday afternoon (Mar. 25) at 1:00 p.m. (MST)
New Mexico 5, San Diego State 4SDSU 002 000 011 - 4 10 2UNM 000 104 00x - 5 8 2Mendoza, Skinner (6), Garber (6), Minter (7), Moat (8) and ManfredYoung, Perez (8) and TajimaW - Young (2-4)L - Mendoza (2-4)Sv - Perez (4)HR - NoneTime - 2:41Att. - 252