March 28, 2004
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Landon Burt's two-run homer in the top of the seventh completed a San Diego State comeback and gave the Aztecs a lead they would not relinquish in an 11-9 victory over New Mexico at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. Burt's heroics were only part of the story as SDSU fought back from a five-run deficit after two innings to improve to 15-18 on the season and 5-1 in Mountain West Conference play. With the loss, UNM fell to 6-16-1 (3-3 MWC).
Burt finished the afternoon with four hits, a pair of runs scored and three runs batted in while teammate Brock Ungricht went one better with five hits including a triple and three RBI.
New Mexico came out swinging Sunday afternoon, scoring four times in the first inning off SDSU starter Chris Hartshorn. When second baseman Ryan Barba led off the second with a home run to give the Lobos a 5-0 advantage, sophomore left Ben Coon was called upon in a relief role, retiring the first three hitters he faced.
In the next inning, Coon faced his biggest jam of the contest as UNM loaded the bases with nobody out. He proceeded to strike out catcher A.J. Spitaleri and then induced Tim Grady to hit into a 5-2-3 double play to end the threat.
Coon's escape act would prove big as SDSU scored three times in the next inning on RBI singles by Jake McLintock, Landon Burt and Sam Pepper to cut the Lobo lead to 5-3. The visitors made it a one-run game with a run in the fifth before New Mexico countered with a run in the same inning to make it a 6-4 contest.
After the Aztecs tied the game at 6-6 with a pair of runs in the sixth, the stage was set for Burt's two-run blast. After Ryan Wilson singled with one out, UNM brought in relief specialist Joe Salas to face Burt. Salas had pitched in each of the first two games of the series, retiring all seven Aztecs he had faced.
But this time, Burt greeted Salas' 3-2 pitch by hitting it well over the right field fence, and Ungricht drove in a run later in the same inning to give San Diego State 9-6 lead. The teams then traded runs over the final two innings with Ungricht hitting a two-run triple in the ninth that proved decisive.
Coon, who kept the Lobo in check for the most part, picked up his fourth win of the season against no defeats. Senior Ryan Schroyer, who pitched the final 1.1 innings, recorded his seventh save of the year. UNM's Karsten Gaarder was saddled with the loss as he fell to 0-2.
Up next for San Diego State is a break from conference play as it hosts UCLA on Tuesday, March 30, at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. SDSU will then host UNLV next weekend.
San Diego State 11, New Mexico 9SDS 000 312 302 - 11 21 4UNM 410 010 021 - 9 12 1Hartshorn, Coon (2), Schroyer (8) and UngrichtEddy, Gaarder (5), Salas (7) and Spitaleri, J. Grady (8)W - Coon (4-0)L - Gaarder (0-2)Sv - Schroyer (7)HR - UNM: Barba (2nd-none on) SDS: Burt (7th-one on)Att. - 840Time - 3:27