March 29, 2006
SAN DIEGO - Starting pitcher Justin Masterson threw a complete game for San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference Opener against New Mexico Wednesday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Unfortunately, Masterson suffered the loss in 10 innings, as the Lobos defeated SDSU, 3-2.
Masterson (2-5) allowed two earned runs on five hits and he struck out seven in his long night of work. Masterson also hadn't allowed a hit until the fifth inning.
Both Aztec runs came from solo home runs. Third baseman Tim O'Brien got SDSU (6-24, 0-1) on the board first when he knocked one out of the park. O'Brien finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Two innings later, left fielder Paul Smyth blasted a home run well over the left field wall. Smyth's home run tied the game at two, after New Mexico (18-8, 1-0) took a 2-1 lead after scoring a run in the fourth and fifth.
Designated hitter Chris Carlson tied the game for New Mexico with a sacrifice fly that scored second baseman Jordan Pacheco in the fourth inning. In the following inning, the Lobos took the lead behind three consecutive singles. Right fielder Chris Dabbs's RBI single sent home third baseman Ian Hollick to give New Mexico a 2-1 lead. The lead was short-lived as Smyth tied the game with his four bagger in the next frame.
The Lobos loaded the bases with one out in the 10th inning before left fielder Jay Russell smacked one over a drawn-in Smyth in left field to score catcher Drew McDonald for the game-winning run.
As part of the preseason MWC Tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium, SDSU will play its second of four games in the tournament tomorrow at 7 p.m. against Utah.