May 26, 2005
SALT LAKE CITY - San Diego State got a pair of home runs from junior Curt Mendoza early, but had to rally late to defeat New Mexico, 7-5, in an elimination game at the Mountain West Conference Tournament in Salt Lake City. With the victory, SDSU improves to 25-34 while the Lobos end their 2005 campaign with a 26-32 record.
Bruce Billings (6-5), the MWC Pitcher of the Year, tossed eight innings to pick up his sixth win of the year. The sophomore right-hander from San Diego allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out 10. The 10 K's give him a season total of 112, fifth-most ever for an Aztec hurler.
The Aztecs jumped out to a 5-0 lead thanks to a two-run homer from Mendoza in the second inning and a three-run shot from the same player in the third. However, after building the early lead, the SDSU offense was stymied by UNM starter Danny Ray Herrera.
Meanwhile, Herrera's teammates slowly got his side back into the game, scoring a single run in the fourth on an RBI single by Garrick Haymore and two more in the sixth on a two-run double by Chris Carlson. The Lobos tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the seventh, getting a pair of unearned runs on two errors and a two-RBI double by second baseman Jordan Pacheco.
However, San Diego State finally got to Herrera in the bottom of the same frame as James Guerrero led off with a triple and came home on a single by Jake McLintock. A two-out walk to Mendoza set the stage for an RBI single by Tim O'Brien to provide the final margin. Guerrero's triple was the 16th of his career as he set a new SDSU record in that category.
Redshirt freshman Jared Suwyn came on in the ninth to close out the contest, retiring the side to pick up his first save.
Second baseman Sam Pepper had four hits on the evening while four others (McLintock, Mendoza, O'Brien and Jordan Swaydan) had two apiece in SDSU's 14-hit attack.
San Diego State now faces another elimination game on Friday (May 27) as it will take on tournament host Utah at 11:00 a.m. (MDT) at Franklin Covey Field.
San Diego State 7, New Mexico 5UNM 000 102 200 - 5 6 1SDS 023 000 20x - 7 14 2Herrera, Perez (8) and J. GradyBillings, Suwyn (9) and SwaydanW - Billings (6-5)L - Herrera (8-5)Sv - Suwyn (1)HR - SDS: Mendoza-2 (8)Time - 2:33Att. - 913