May 27, 2012
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - New Mexico unleashed a 26-hit barrage as it took control early in defeating San Diego State, 22-3, to win the championship at the 2012 Mountain West Tournament at Earl E. Wilson Stadium Saturday night in Las Vegas.
With the victory, the Lobos improved to 36-22 and claimed the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. The Aztecs, meanwhile, saw their season come to an end as they finished with a 26-34 record.
UNM opened the game by scoring six runs in the bottom of the first that included a two-run homer by DJ Peterson along with three doubles, two singles and an Aztec error. All six of those runs, only three of which were earned, were charged to SDSU starter Ethan Miller (3-2), who was unable to get out of the inning and would be charged with the loss.
San Diego State tried to get back into the contest in its next at bat, putting a pair of runs on the board against Lobo starting pitcher Josh Walker. A single, error and walk loaded the bases with infield base hits by Greg Allen and Tim Zier driving home the runs to make it 6-2.
New Mexico, however, continued to add to its run total with four in both the second and third frames. The Lobos got a three-run home in the second by Alex Real and another three-run shot in the third by Ryan Padilla. In addition to the three long balls the Lobos also smacked seven doubles in the game.
San Diego State's other run came in the top of the fourth as Jomel Torres hit a solo home run to right, his second of the tourney and third of the season. Torres was one of three Aztecs named to the all-tournament team along with outfielder Greg Allen and catcher Jake Romanski.
Following Torres' homer the Aztecs could do little against Walker, who allowed a pair of singles in the fifth before retiring the final seven hitters he faced. Walker would depart after seven innings, but do enough to be credited with the win to improve to 8-2 on the season.
Jake Romanski was the lone Aztec to record more than one hit in the game as he finished with a pair of singles. Torres, Allen and Zier had SDSU's RBI's as San Diego State concluded its 2012 campaign with an appearance in the title game of the conference tournament for the first time since the 2009 season.