March 17, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico scored nine runs over the second through fourth innings en route to an 11-2 victory over San Diego State Saturday afternoon at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque. The win improved the Lobos to 7-10 overall and 2-0 in Mountain West play while SDSU fell to 9-10 (0-2 MW).
After a scoreless first inning, New Mexico grabbed the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off Aztec starter Travis Pitcher. The Lobos added five more in the next inning and sent Pitcher to the bench in the process as freshman Mike RoBards came out of the bullpen to close out the inning. Those runs were enough to make a loser of Pitcher, who lost for the first time this season and fell to 2-1.
Robards, however, would give up two runs in the next frame as the home side took a commanding 9-0 lead after four innings.
San Diego State started a comeback effort in the top of the sixths coring twice to cut the deficit to seven runs. A two-out single by Dillon Bryant and a double by Cody Smith put runners at second and third before Seby Zavala's grounder to shortstop was booted, allowing both Bryant and Smith to score.
New Mexico wasted little time in restoring its nine-run lead as it came up with two runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 11-2. Those runs came on four singles against SDSU sophomore TJ Kendzora
Both of SDSU's runs were unearned and came of New Mexico starter Austin House (1-3), who would complete seven innings and pick up his first win of the 2012 campaign. Reliever Hobie McClain tossed the final two innings giving up three walks and striking out three to nail down the win for the Lobos.
The Aztec managed only five hits in the game with two of those coming off the bat of Cody Smith. His double was SDSU's lone extra-base hit of the afternoon as well.
San Diego State and New Mexico will conclude their weekend series on Sunday (March 18) with a game scheduled to get underway at noon (MT).