April 5, 2007
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State recovered from an early deficit and defeated New Mexico, 6-3, Thursday night in the opening contest of their three-game series. The meeting was the fourth straight between the teams after the Lobos won two of three contests in Albuquerque last week. The victory was SDSU's second consecutive win over the Lobos as they improved to 19-14 overall and 4-2 in the Mountain West Conference. UNM, meanwhile, fell to 14-19 (3-4 MWC).
The game was a story of missed opportunities on both sides as the teams left a total of 22 men on base (12 by UNM, 10 by SDSU). The Lobos left two runners on four times during the contest while the Aztecs did so three times and also failed to cash in on a leadoff triple in the eighth.
The game also marked the return of SDSU lefty Donnie Hume, who saw action on the mound for the first time since Mar. 1. After surrendering a run in each of the first two innings, he settled down and retired six of the seven hitters he faced in the third and fourth frames before being removed from the contest.
After spotting the visitors a two-run lead, the Aztecs tied the game in the bottom of the second on a leadoff double to right by Brandon Glover, a Brian Lucas RBI double down the left field line, and an RBI infield single by Mike Willeford.
SDSU took the lead for good in the fourth against UNM starter Bobby LaFromboise when Lucas opened the inning with a single and Matt Parker drew a walk. After Willeford moved the pair up with a sacrifice bunt, Lucas and Parker both scored on Troy Hanzawa's grounder that was booted by Lobo second baseman Matt Hibbitts.
New Mexico drew within a run in their next at bat as back-to-back singles off SDSU reliever J.R. Murphy were followed by Daniel Stovall's sacrifice fly to center that scored Jordan Pacheco to make it a 4-3 game.
The Aztecs increased their advantage to 6-3, however, with two runs in the sixth as Parker singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Hanzawa struck out swinging, but a wild pitch on the play allowed him to reach first with Parker moving up one base as well. Parker then scored when Hanzawa was caught in rundown trying to steal second as Lobo catcher Drew McDonald failed to hold onto the throw while trying to tag Parker out at home. Nick Romero then came up with a two-out single to bring home Hanzawa.
Mike Koons pitched two scoreless innings before freshman Stephen Strasburg came on in the ninth to record his league-leading fifth save of the season. J.R. Murphy was credited with the win, his first of the season as he improved to 1-0. UNM's Bobby LaFromboise, who defeated SDSU in the opener of last weekend's series in Albuquerque, took the loss to fall to 5-2.
Aztec third baseman Nick Romero was perfect at the plate on the night, going 4-for-4 with a walk and a run batted in. Three of Romero's teammates tallied two hits apiece including Frank LoNigro, Brandon Glover and Brian Lucas.
San Diego State and New Mexico continue their three-game series on Friday (Apr. 6) at Tony Gwynn Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.