May 13, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After being shut out on Thursday, San Diego State could muster just one run on Friday as it fell, 4-1, to New Mexico at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. Lobo lefty Danny Ray Herrera limited the Aztecs to seven hits over eight innings while striking out four as he improved to 7-4.
SDSU starter Bruce Billings struck out seven and gave up just three hits in his seven innings, but it was a pair of walks that proved costly as he allowed three runs. With the loss, Billings saw his record fall to 5-4.
New Mexico (22-27 overall; 13-13 MWC) opened the scoring in the second as first baseman Daniel Stovall drew a walk and scored on a two-out double by right fielder Chris Dabbs.
In the sixth, Lobo second baseman Jason Pacheco walked and scored on teammate Ryan Barba's triple to center, the first of his pair of three-baggers on the afternoon. Barba then came home on a slow roller to first off the bat of Chris Carlson.
The Aztecs did not advance a runner past second base until the eighth when freshman Grant Desme led off with a home run to left center, the first of his SDSU career, to make it a 3-1 game. SDSU had a chance to add to its total in that inning as Quintin Berry followed Desme with a single and Jake McLintock was hit by pitch with one out. But Herrera got a fly ball and a strikeout out to end the threat.
UNM added an insurance run in its half of the eighth off Aztec reliever Andres Esquibel as center fielder Matt Foote led off with a single and scored on Barba's second triple of the day and fourth in the two days.
After SDSU's Curt Mendoza led off the ninth with a single, the Lobos brought on reliever Jesse Perez, who retired the next three batters to record his first save.
The Aztecs and Lobos conclude their three-game MWC series on Saturday (May 14) with game time set for noon (MDT) in Albuquerque.
New Mexico 4, San Diego State 1SDS 000 000 010 - 1 7 0UNM 010 002 01x - 4 5 0Billings, Esquibel (8) and SwaydanHerrera, Perez (9) and J. GradyW - Herrera (7-4)L - Billings (5-4)Sv - Perez (1)HR - SDS: Desme (1)Time - 2:15Att. - 784