Aztecs Fall Short in Series Opener at New Mexico, 5-3
San Diego State opened its Mountain West weekend series at New Mexico on sour note Friday after dropping a 5-3 decision in walk-off fashion at Lobo Baseball Field in Albuquerque, N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – San Diego State opened its Mountain West weekend series at New Mexico on sour note Friday after dropping a 5-3 decision in walk-off fashion at Lobo Baseball Field.
UNM’s Anthony Diaz smacked a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to provide for the winning margin and snap the Aztecs’ four-game victory streak.
With the loss, SDSU (19-15, 7-3 MW) slips into tie for first in the MW standings with Nevada (18-12, 7-3 MW), which defeated San José State at home, while the Lobos (20-12-1, 6-3-1 MW) remain a close third.
Diaz’s blast made a winner of Cooper Corkrean (4-0), who pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Cristian Mogen, while Aidan Russell (4-2) (1.2 IP) was charged with the loss.
The Aztecs seemed poised to send the game into extra innings after Khalil Walker grounded out into a double play for the first two outs in the ninth. Previously, UNM put two runners aboard when Shane Miller and Akili Carris drew walks sandwiched around a passed ball. Moments later, Miller advanced to third when Walker tapped a grounder to second, as SDSU completed the twin-killing.
However, Diaz soon stepped to the plate a drilled a 0-1 pitch off the top of the fence in right field, just past the outstretched glove of Zane Kelly to give the Lobos the victory.
UNM plated the game’s first run in the second when Carris drew a two-out walk and stole second before racing home on Walker’s ground-rule double down the left field line.
SDSU later tied the contest in the sixth when Max Farrell went deep for the fourth time this season with a solo home run to deep left field.
The score remained knotted until the sixth inning when Jabin Trosky led off with a triple and crossed the plate shortly thereafter on Zach Justice’s sacrifice fly, putting the visitors briefly in front, 2-1.
The Lobos responded with a pair of markers in their half of the frame to reclaim a 3-2 advantage, as Lenny Junior Ashby led off with a solo homer to right, while Luke Mansy’s RBI single knocked in Gene Trujillo, who bounced a ground-rule double over the center field fence.
The Aztecs fought back to forge a 3-3 tie in seventh when Anthony Marnell IV smoked a one-out double to the gap in right and ultimately scored on Kelly’s sacrifice fly to center.
SDSU was unable to mount a threat for the remainder of the contest, as Corkrean retired all six batters during his stint.
Aztec starter Rohan Lettow allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk with six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, before giving way to Issac Araiza (1.2 IP), who offset one hit with a pair of strikeouts in his appearance.
Conversely, Mogen fanned 11 batters for the Lobos, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings of work.
UNM maintained a 9-4 advantage in hits, including two apiece by Ashby, Mansy and Karsen Waslefsky.
San Diego State continues its series at New Mexico on Saturday, April 11, starting at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. The Aztecs are scheduled to start Drew Talavs (3-2), while the Lobos are expected to counter with fellow right-hander Ryan Castillo (6-1). The SDSU-UNM clash will air live on the MW Network.