May 2, 2004
SAN DIEGO - New Mexico scored 10 runs over the final two innings to break open a one-run game and spoil a San Diego State comeback as the Lobos defeated the Aztecs, 18-9, Sunday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The loss dropped SDSU into third place in the Mountain West Conference standings, 2.5 games behind league-leading UNLV and 1.5 games in back of second-place UNM.
The Lobos jumped on Aztec starter Ben Coon for five runs in the first inning and extended that early lead to 7-1 with two more in the second before SDSU started its comeback. Over the next three innings, San Diego State outscored the Lobos 6-1 to make it an 8-7 game after four frames.
A two-run home run in the bottom of the second by Chad Corona, another by Jake McLintock in the third, and a two-RBI single by Rielly Embrey turned the game into a one-run affair. <>P> From that point, both offenses cooled as a trio of Aztec relievers shut down New Mexico while UNM's Karsten Gaarder, who had come on the in the fourth, kept SDSU's bats in check.
But in the top of the eighth, New Mexico (18-23-1, 14-7 MWC) put up four runs on three hits and an Aztec error. The big blow was a two-run double by designated hitter Matt Foote.
In the next inning, the Lobos added six more as A.J. Spitaleri led off with his second home run of the afternoon. The remaining runs came courtesy of five hits and a pair of SDSU errors.
San Diego State (24-25, 12-7 MWC) picked up a pair of consolation runs in the bottom of the ninth on Josh Hill's two-run homer, his second of the season. Hill finished the day with three hits and a pair of runs scored.
UNM's Gaarder, who pitched the final six innings, picked up the win to even his record at 2-2. Ben Coon took the loss to fall to 4-3.
Up next for SDSU is a short break from league play as it hosts USC on Monday (May 3) at 2:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Aztecs then depart later in the week for a three-game series at UNLV starting Friday night (May 7) at 6:30 p.m. in Las Vegas.
New Mexico 18, San Diego State 9UNM 520 100 046 - 18 21 0SDS 122 200 002 - 9 12 3Eddy, Gaarder (4) and SpitaleriCoon, Pace (1), Zink (2), Hartshorn (4), Jenson (7), Bruckart (9), Wilson (9) and Coulter, Swaydan (7)W - Gaarder (2-2)L - Coon (4-3)Sv - NoneHR - UNM: Spitaleri-2 (4), Salas (8) SDS: Corona (5), McLintock (4), Hill (2)Att. - 302Time - 3:34