March 30, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico left-hander Bobby LaFromboise scattered four hits and four San Diego State errors led to nine unearned runs for the Lobos as they defeated SDSU, 11-5, Friday night at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. The contest was played on a chilly, breezy evening that saw the temperature dip into the low 40s for most of the game.
New Mexico (13-17, 2-2 MWC) jumped out to a quick lead against Aztec starter Steven Hirschfeld, taking advantage of a walk and a pair of singles to score a run in the first inning. Hirschfeld would go six innings on the night, giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out five. He walked only three, but those free passes would come back to haunt him as each of those batters would go on to score.
San Diego State (17-13, 2-1 MWC) took its only lead of the night with a pair of runs in third. A leadoff double by Brian Lucas and a walk to Chris Anderson set the stage for Aaron Brady's bunt single that was thrown away by Lobo third baseman Ian Hollick, allowing Lucas to score. A ground out to second by Brandon Glover brought home Anderson to give the Aztecs a 2-1 advantage.
The lead was short-lived, however, as a walk to right fielder Matt Foote, stolen base, throwing error and grounder to second by Jordan Pacheco tied the game in the bottom of the same inning.
The home side took the lead for good in the sixth off Hirschfeld, who took the loss to fall to 3-2. Pacheco led off with a single and advanced to second on a walk to Daniel Stovall. The next batter, Matt Hibbitts, laid down a sacrifice bunt to third and was thrown out at first. On the play, Pacheco never stopped and was able to score from second base. Ian Hollick followed with a sacrifice fly to center to make it a 4-2 score line.
Pacheco finished the contest with four hits and five runs batted in. Included in that total was a three-run homer in the eighth that provided UNM with its final three runs.
After the Lobos got two unearned runs in the seventh to make it 6-2, the Aztecs pushed across a run in the eighth on a leadoff triple by Brady and a ground out RBI by Glover. But any hopes of a further comeback were ended when the Lobos scored five more unearned runs in the bottom of the frame.
UNM's LaFromboise finished his evening after eight innings having given up three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out five. The victory improved the Lobo freshman to 5-1.
The Aztecs got a pair of consolation runs in the ninth off New Mexico reliever Brandon Hewett on a walk to Garett Green, single by Frank LoNigro and a two-run single by catcher Matt Parker.
San Diego State recorded just six hits on the evening with two of those provided by Brady, a relief pitcher who was making just his second start in left field.
The Aztecs and Lobos continue their three-game weekend series on Saturday (Mar. 31) with game time set for 6:00 p.m. (MDT) in Albuquerque.