May 25, 2005

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The New Mexico baseball team rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to top Air Force, 11-9, Wednesday night in the Mountain West Tournament at Franklin Covey Field. The Lobos (26-31) will play the loser of the BYU/San Diego State game Thursday night at 7 p.m. The Aztecs and Cougars meet at 11 a.m. in a second-round contest; UNLV and Utah will play at 3 p.m.

Down 9-5 heading into the seventh-inning stretch, the Lobos erupted for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the inning. Jordan Pacheco, who went 2-for-5 with three RBI, drove in the first run of the inning with a single to right field, knocking out Air Force starter Kyle DePierre. DePierre struck out six and gave up eight runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings.

The rally really got going after DePierre exited and the Falcons brought in reliever Paul Vignola. The Lobos lit up Vignola (1-5) for three runs and four hits in just 1/3 of an inning. Ryan Barba and Chris Carlson hit back-to-back triples, and Garrick Haymore then hit a run-scoring single. Ian Hollick also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

That was all the support Petr Pacas needed to close the game and earn the victory. Pacas (1-1) fanned four, scattered three hits and didn't allow a run while pitching a season-high 3.2 innings.

Daniel Stovall led the Lobos at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBI. Chris Carlson also tallied three RBI and went 2-for-4 with two runs, including his 15th homer of the year, a solo blast to left in the fifth.

Pacheco collected his 15th homer of the year with a deep two-run shot to left in the third, putting UNM up, 4-3. Stovall delivered his two-run dinger in the second.

Air Force scored three runs in each the third, fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-5 lead before the Lobos rallied.