March 31, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - For the second day in a row, San Diego State was unable to mount any sustained offense as it dropped an 8-4 decision to the University of New Mexico Saturday night in Albuquerque. The loss dropped SDSU to 17-14 overall and 2-2 in the Mountain West Conference while the Lobos moved to 14-17 (3-2 MWC).
After New Mexico opened the contest with a run in the first inning, San Diego State came back to tie the game in its next at bat. Brian Lucas singled and advanced to second on a ground out by Garett Green. Lucas then scored on Frank LoNigro's single down the right field line to make it a 1-1 contest.
The Lobos took the lead for good in the third on a two-out bases-loaded double by Matt Hibbitts that gave the home side a 4-1 lead.
LoNigro's solo home run to left in the fifth, his first of the season, drew the Aztecs to within two runs, but it was close as they would get for the remainder of the contest.
The Lobos scored a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings before SDSU tallied a pair of consolation runs in the eighth off UNM starter Stephen Smith. The Aztecs got RBI from Brady and Brandon Glover before Smith gave way to reliever Adam Skelton, who retired all five batters he faced to nail down the win.
Senior Bruce Billings (2-1) tossed the first six innings, allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts as he lost for the first time in 2007. Smith was credited with the victory as he improved to 3-5.
The Aztecs and Lobos will conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon (Apr. 1) at 12:30 p.m. at Isotopes Park.