May 17, 2013
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Luke Campbell's two-run homer in the top of the seventh broke up a scoreless pitchers' duel and propelled No. 16 New Mexico to a 3-1 victory over San Diego State Friday evening at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the loss the Aztecs saw their overall record dip below the .500 mark at 26-27 with their league record falling to 15-14.
The contest was a tight affair over the first six innings with neither team able to put up a run. SDSU starter Ryan Doran and UNM hurler Sam Wolff only allowed one hit apiece over the first six frames with no runner on either side able to advance past second base.
That changed in the top of the seventh when Josh Melendez recorded a one-out single and was followed by Campbell's ball that cleared the left field fence to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Doran would finish his night after eight innings as he allowed the two runs on five hits with three walks and a career-tying high nine strikeouts. His one mistake on the pitch to Campbell meant he was tagged with the loss to drop to 7-3 on the year.
The Aztecs responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own to cut the deficit to 2-1. Greg Allen's two-out single scored Steve Pallares, who had walked and stole second. Wolff's night ended in the frame as he completed 6.1 innings with a run allowed on just one hit with three walks and six strikeouts. He was credited with the win to move his record to 6-3.
UNM (34-28; 24-6 MW) added an insurance run in the ninth against SDSU's Philip Walby on a double, wild pitch and 6-4-3 double play. Lobo reliever Gabe Aguilar, who had come on the seventh, tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless ball to finish out the contest and record his second save of the season.
SDSU had at least one runner on base in eight of the nine innings, but were only able to cash in for the single run in the bottom of the seventh. The Aztec finished with four hits including Allen's RBI safety along with singles by Tim Zier, Jake Romanski and Steven Pallares.
New Mexico and San Diego State conclude the regular season with a contest on Saturday, May 18, set to get underway at 2:00 p.m. (PT). Prior to the game the Aztecs will honor six senior players competing in the final home contest of their collegiate careers.