April 7, 2006
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State got another fine pitching performance from Justin Masterson along with home runs by Curt Mendoza and Tim O'Brien en route to a 10-4 victory over New Mexico Friday evening. The win avenged last Wednesday's loss to the Lobos, a game in which Masterson went the distance only to lose, 3-2, in 10 innings. The contest also marked the 100th career win for Aztec head coach Tony Gwynn.
New Mexico (18-11, 1-3 MWC) came out swinging as Daniel Stovall followed Chris Carlson's first-inning single with a two-run homer that spotted the visitors an early 2-0 lead.
UNM starting pitcher Nate Melek (3-5) sailed through the bottom of the first, but ran into trouble in the Aztec second as he gave up back-to-back singles to Paul Smyth and Brock Ungricht followed by Mendoza's three-run blast over the left field fence.
The Aztec onslaught continued in the next inning as O'Brien followed Mendoza's lead with a homer to left that also brought home Nick Romero, who had walked. SDSU added another run in the frame on consecutive singles by Ungricht, Lance Zawadzki and Mendoza to extend the home side's advantage to 6-2.
Mendoza collected his fifth RBI of the night, driving in Ungricht from third once again in the fifth, this time on a ground out to short. The Aztecs tacked on three more in the sixth on a two-run triple by Smyth, who later came home on Ungricht's sacrifice fly to center.
Masterson, meanwhile, seemed to get stronger as the game went on. After surrendering two hits in the third and one in the fifth, he shut down the Lobo offense over his final four innings of work, retiring 12 of the 15 batters he faced and allowing just one more hit. He picked up the win to improve to 3-5 on the year while lowering his team-leading ERA to 3.77.
New Mexico scored a pair of consolation runs in the final inning, but freshman Mark Triolo came on in relief of Jared Suwyn to get the final two outs of the inning and secure the victory.
Brock Ungricht finished his night with three hits and three runs scored while Mendoza's five RBI was the most for an Aztec in a game in 2006. Smyth, Romero and Zawadzki also had two hits apiece.
The Lobos and the Aztecs continue their three-game MWC series on Saturday (April 8) at 1:00 p.m.
San Diego State 10, New Mexico 4UNM 200 000 002 - 4 8 0SDS 033 013 00x - 10 13 2Melek, Andes (6) and McDonaldMasterson, Suwyn (9). Triolo (9) and SwaydanW - Masterson (3-5)L - Melek (3-4)Sv - NoneHR - UNM: Stovall-6 (1st-one on) SDS: Mendoza-5 (2nd-two on) SDS: O'Brien-7 (3rd-one on)Time - 2:40Att. - 578