Feb. 25, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Texas State avoided the season sweep with an 11-4 win over New Mexico at Isotopes Park this afternoon, ending the Lobos three-game win streak. The Bobcats outhit the Lobos 15-9 and capitalized on five walks and four hit batters.
Thomas Field led off the game for Texas State, drawing a walk and then scoring on a deep fly ball to center that fooled senior Matt Foote, first bringing him in before switching directions and heading back out, just missing the catch. Foote got the run back for the Lobos in the bottom of the first, slapping a grounder through the right side and then scoring on an infield single by sophomore right fielder Dane Hamilton.
Field put the Bobcats back on top in the third with another leadoff walk and then scored on David Wood’s triple to center. Texas State added three more runs in the inning for a total of four on five hits and a 5-1 lead.
Leading 7-1 after four and a half innings, Texas State surrendered three runs to New Mexico, pulling the Lobos within three. Foote led off the inning with another single and scored as junior third baseman Ian Hollick drew a bases-loaded walk. Freshman Adam Courcha drove in the last two with a pinch-hit double smoked down the left line.
Texas State took the three runs back in the top of the sixth and added its final run in the eighth.
The Lobos had runners at first and second with no outs in both the eighth and ninth but reliever Eric Weaver was bailed out by his fielders, which recorded a double play in each inning.
Weaver earned the win, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings with three hits, two walks and 1 strikeout recorded. Left-handed junior Jacob Norton (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing eight hits, six runs (five earned), two walks and two strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Courcha led UNM at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two RBI. Foote and sophomore second baseman Chad Itokazu also posted two hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and 2-for-5, respectively.
The Lobos (6-7) return to the field on Tuesday, hosting Texas Tech for the second match-up in the four-game season series.