May 3, 2014
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - In a game of opportunities missed and opportunities taken, New Mexico was able to get the timely hits as it defeated San Diego State, 6-1, Saturday afternoon at Lobo Field in Albuquerque.
With the loss the Aztecs fell to 32-15 overall and 13-10 in the Mountain West as they dropped back into fourth place in the league standings, a game behind Nevada and two behind UNM.
In a battle of lefties, New Mexico's Colton Thomson shut down the SDSU offense for seven innings while SDSU's Mike Robards bore the brunt of the Lobos' attack.
Both teams loaded the bases with two out in the second inning. The Aztecs failed to cash in while the Lobos were able to capitalize. A hit batter by RoBards and an ensuing infield single gave the home side a quick 2-0 lead.
SDSU again loaded the bases with two out in the top of the fourth, but again came up empty.
New Mexico (32-15-1, 15-8 MW) increased its lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Chase Harris led off with a solo home run to left center field, his seventh of the year.
In the bottom of the sixth the Lobos loaded the bases with two outs one more time. And again they got the clutch hit as Andre Vigil tripled to left center against reliever TJ Kendzora to bring home all three runners and double UNM's lead to 6-0.
San Diego State got a consolation run in the top of the ninth when Brad Haynal sent a pitch over the right center field fence for his conference-leading 10th home run of the year. After Haynal's leadoff homer, Spencer Thornton drew a walk, but an ensuing strikeout was followed by a double play to end the contest as the Lobo's ended each of the final three frames with a twin killing.
UNM's Thomson, who went seven innings, finished with no runs allowed on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts while picking up the win to improve to 6-5.
RoBards' final line read five innings pitched with four runs surrender on eight hits with three walks as his record dropped to 4-4. UNM's final two runs were charged to freshman Marcus Reyes, who had put two runners on in the sixth before Vigil's triple.
Thornton followed up his three-hit performance of Friday night with two more hits in Saturday's contest and also drew the ninth-inning walk. Ryan Muno also finished with two hits.
San Diego State and New Mexico will play the rubber game of their three-game series Sunday Afternoon, May 4, at 1:00 p.m. (MT) at Lobo Field.