April 4, 2008
SAN DIEGO - New Mexico hurler Bobby LaFromboise overcame some early wildness to shut down San Diego State on three hits as the Lobos defeated the Aztecs, 5-2, Friday evening in the opening contest of their three-game Mountain West Conference series.
The win was the sixth straight for the Lobos who improved to 19-10 overall and 4-3 in league play. The loss dropped the Aztecs to 17-12 (5-2 MWC).
San Diego starting pitcher Nate Solow got through the opening frame after allowing a two-out single and walk, but was not as fortunate in the second. With runners at first and second and two away, Mike Brownstein's single to right scored Mark Rockey from second. Brownstein went to second on the throw home, and when catcher Erik Castro's throw back to second went into center field, Adam Courcha scored from third.
The Aztecs got those runs back in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of control problems by LaFromboise to score twice and tie the contest at 2-2. A leadoff single by Garett Green was followed one out later by back-to-back hit batters in T.J. Thomas and Brandon Glover to load the bases.
A walk to Brett Tanos forced home Green with the first run. After a strikeout, Pat Colwell drew another base on balls to bring home Thomas from third and knot the score. From there, however, LaFromboise regained his control and held the Aztecs in check the rest of the way.
The Lobo senior lefty retired 15 of the 17 hitters he faced from the third through seventh innings. After putting two men on in the eighth, he got a double play to get out of trouble, then retired the side in order in the ninth to collect the win and improve to 3-2 on the season.
New Mexico, meanwhile, took the lead for good with three runs in the fifth, scoring on a wild pitch, sacrifice fly and RBI single. Following the latter hit, Solow was lifted in favor of junior James McLaughlin, who tossed 4.2 innings of shutout ball to finish the contest. Solow was charged with the loss as his record fell to 1-4.
Lobo left fielder Matt Hibbits was the evening's hitting star, going 5-for-5 with a double and scoring one run. For SDSU, Colwell, Green and Thomas each collected one of their team's three safeties on the night.
New Mexico and San Diego State will continue series with a contest on Saturday, April 5, at 1:00 p.m. (PDT) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.