March 7, 2015
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - New Mexico scored an unearned run in the bottom of the 10th inning to defeat San Diego State, 11-10, Saturday afternoon at Lobo Field in Albuquerque. The run negated a heroic comeback by the Aztecs, who had rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth to send the contest to extra innings.
With loss SDSU's record dropped to 12-3 overall and 3-2 in the Mountain West. UNM, meanwhile, improved to 9-2 (4-1 MW) as it moved into a tie with Nevada for first place in the conference standings with the Aztecs sitting in third.
San Diego State had broken a 4-4 deadlock with a run in the top of the eighth, but New Mexico roared back with six runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 10-5 lead. Those runs came against three Aztec hurlers as the Lobos recorded only three hits, but had help in the form of five walks and a wild pitch during the rally.
SDSU began the top of the ninth with a single by Justin Wylie and double by David Hensley. After an out, Steven Pallares singled to right center to bring home both runners. After a second out, Ty France reached safely on a bunt single before Seby Zavala stepped up and launched a pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer to tie the contest.
With Pallares on the mound in the bottom of the 10th after nine innings in center field, New Mexico got a leadoff single by Jack Zoellner. When Aaron Siple's sacrifice bunt was misplayed by Aztec catcher Seby Zavala, the Lobos had runners at first and second with no outs. After Zoellner moved up to third on Pallares' errant throw on pickoff attempt, the Aztecs walked the next batter to load the bases, still with no outs.
Pallares then got a fielder's choice force out at home and a strikeout before Hayden Schilling's two-out single to left brought home the winning run and ended the game.
Pallares would take the loss to even his record at 1-1 on the season. At the plate he ended the afternoon with three hits, two RBI and three runs scored. It was his fifth three-hit game in SDSU's last seven contests.
Zavala finished the contest with a pair of hits and five runs batted in while France had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored.
San Diego State and New Mexico will conclude their three-game series on Sunday (March 8) with a contest scheduled to get underway at 1:00 p.m. (MT) in Albuquerque.