New Mexico St. reaches final
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
New Mexico State broke a 4-all game with a six-run fifth inning and then held off a late surge from San Jose State in a 10-9 win last night in the third session of the NAPA Auto Parts Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament.
A crowd of 2,337 attended the third day of the tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.
The Aggies (44-15), the fourth seed and only unbeaten team left, will face three-time defending league champion Fresno State at noon today.
The Bulldogs, who advanced earlier with a 10-3 win that ousted Hawai'i, must win twice to reclaim their title.
The champion gets the league's automatic NCAA tournament berth. Because the Bulldogs (30-28) record is less than stellar and because the Aggies' Rating Percentage Index was 127 as of yesterday, per boydsworld.com, it is unlikely either would get an at-large berth for finishing as a runner-up.
Wade Reynoso's two-run double and Kyle Decater's two-run home run highlighted the six-run fifth inning for the Aggies.
The Spartans chipped away after being down 10-6, but their rally fell short, when they plated three in the bottom of the eighth. Jake Wilson pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save for the Aggies.
Aggies' starter Sebastien Vendette (8-2) allowed six runs in 6 1/3 innings. Four other relievers bridged the gap to Wilson to close it out.
Tyler Heil (4-2) was tagged for nine runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Spartans (41-20), who became the fourth team ousted from the double-elimination tournament.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
NEW MEXICO STATE 000 460 000 — 10 10 1
SAN JOSE STATE 310 001 130 — 9 14 0
Sebastien Vendette, Frankis Duran (7), Daniel Reyes (8), Scott Coffman (8), Justin Cooper (8), Jake Wilson (9) and Jeffrey Farnham; Tyler Heil, Luke Mazzanti (5), Craig Bussard (8) and Anthony Aguilera. W — Vendette (8-2). L — Heil (4-2). S — Wilson (4).
Leading hitters: NMS—Mike Sodders 3-5, Brian Marquez 2-4, 2 RBIs, Wade Reynoso 2-5, 2 RBIs, Leo Aguirre 1-3, 3 RBIs, Kyle Decater 1-3, 2 RBIs, homer. SJSU—Jason Martin 2-5, Kyle Bellows 1-3, 3 RBIs, Corey Veline 3-5, Craigg Hertler 2-4, 2 RBIs, Michael Reiling 2-4.
