April 24, 2016
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - San Diego State built a six-run lead, then had to withstand a furious late New Mexico rally as it defeated the Lobos, 10-9, Sunday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field in Albuquerque.
The Aztecs (12-25; 5-10 Mountain West) put together a 5-2 lead after five innings behind the pitching of junior right-hander Cody Thompson. He would toss five innings allowing a pair of runs on five hits with five walks and three strikeouts, and would eventually get credit for the win to improve to 2-7 on the year.
After UNM (29-13; 16-5 MW) took a 1-0 lead in its half of the second, SDSU responded with four of its own in the top of the third. Those runs came on a two-run double by Justin Wylie, RBI sacrifice bunt by Alan Trejo and a run-scoring single by Tyler Adkison.
Trejo's solo home run, his second of the year to lead off the fifth, gave the Aztecs a 5-1 lead before the Lobos countered with a run in the bottom of the same inning to make it a 5-2 contest.
After the home side put another run on the board in the sixth, San Diego State struck for four in the top of the seventh to go up 9-3. In that frame a ground rule double by Chase Calabuig drove in one run with a second scoring later in the frame on a Lobo error. The final pair of runs came home on Jordan Verdon's two-out two-RBI single.
Just when the Aztecs thought the game was in hand after holding New Mexico scoreless in its half of the seventh, the Lobos came alive in the ensuing inning scoring four times to make it a 9-7 contest.
San Diego State scored what would prove to be an all-important run in the top of the ninth to up its lead to 10-7. Spencer Thornton doubled to center, advanced to third on Adkison's long fly ball, and scored on a single to left by Verdon.
UNM made it exciting in its final at bat, scoring twice on a hit batter and three singles. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Loptien was called in from the bullpen with runners at first and third and two out, and he was able to induce a ground out to third to end the game and in the process pick up his first save.
Wylie (2 RBI, 2 runs scored) and Calabuig (RBI, run scored) finished the afternoon with three hits apiece. Verdon had two hits and drove in three runs while Trejo also had a pair of hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
Up next for San Diego State is a short trip north on Tuesday, April 26, when it visits No. 17 Long Beach State for a contest scheduled to get underway at 6:00 p.m. at Blair Field in Long Beach.