April 4, 2015
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State overcame a 1-0 deficit with four runs over its final three at bats and then held off New Mexico in the final inning to record a 4-3 victory over the Lobos Saturday afternoon at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the win the Aztecs won the weekend series against UNM while improving to 24-8 overall and 12-3 in the Mountain West where they are tied atop the league standings with Nevada at the halfway point of the conference season.
The contest began as a pitchers' duel as the teams had no runs on a total of four hits between the squads over the first five innings. That changed in the top of the sixth when the Lobos broke through for a run to take a 1-0 lead. That came against Aztec starting pitcher Marcus Reyes on a double and two-out RBI single.
Reyes would have the last word, however, as he would later be credited with the win to improve to 5-0. The sophomore would exit the contest after tossing 6.2 innings allowing the one run on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
UNM's lead did not last long as San Diego State responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. One-out singles by Danny Sheehan and Ty France put runners at first and third. Andre Brown then laid down a bunt toward third and when the throw went to first base, Sheehan broke for home and scored the tying run with France coming around to third. Chase Calabuig then delivered an RBI single to give the Aztecs the lead for good at 2-1.
SDSU added a run to its lead in the next frame on a solo home run by Seby Zavala. The junior catcher lined a ball over the left field fence for his team-leading sixth round-tripper of the year.
The Aztecs made it 4-1 one inning later when France singled, stole second and scored on another two-out run-scoring single by Calabuig. Despite the three-run lead going to the final inning, the drama was far from over.
In the top of the ninth, SDSU called on closer CJ Saylor, but the junior right-hander ran into trouble as New Mexico loaded the bases with no outs on a double, single and base on balls. Brett Seeburger then came on and got a fielder's choice at second with a run scoring before an RBI single made it 4-3 with Lobos at first and second and one out.
Junior right-hander Brian Heldman was then brought in to pitch and he recorded a strikeout and fielder's choice to nail down the victory. His effort earned him his first save of the season.
Calabuig (two RBI) and France (two runs scored) ended the day with two singles apiece as they accounted for four the SDSU's seven hits in the game.
San Diego State will be back in action on Monday, April 6, when it hosts Long Beach State for a contest scheduled to get underway at 6:00 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.