Complete Box: UNM 17, Wichita State 7
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Chris DeVito’s career night at the plate backed a solid start by Carson Schneider as the University of New Mexico baseball team smacked the visiting Wichita State Shockers 17-7 in the Lobos’ home opener Friday night. DeVito finished 5-for-5 with a mammoth grand slam in the sixth inning. He had a career-best seven RBIs while his hit total also set a career high.
“It wasn’t just me,” he said. ” The whole team chipped in. We had 17 hits. It was a good team win today.”
UNM’s junior designated hitter singled leading off the second, hit a ground-rule double to right-center in the third to drive in a run, had an RBI single in the fourth, the grand slam in the sixth, and an RBI single in the seventh before being removed for a pinch runner. He was the first Lobo with seven RBIs in a game since Alex Real did it against San Diego State in the Mountain West Tournament championship game on May 26, 2012.
“DeVito did a good job, clutched up and put himself in a good position to do what he’s supposed to do,” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said. “It’s really promising.”
Schneider, meanwhile, set a new career high with six strikeouts in six solid innings. He scattered 10 hits, but nine of them were singles, and he didn’t walk a batter.
“Schneider pitched really well again against a very good offensive team,” said Birmingham. “I was very impressed by that.”
Wichita State actually opened the scoring with a run in the top of the second on three straight singles. But with runners on the corners and no outs, Schneider got a pop up to first, a swinging strikeout and induced a comebacker to keep the game 1-0.
After that it was all Lobos as they scored the next eight over the next three frames to effectively put the game out of reach in the early innings.
UNM entered the game leading the nation in walks, and they almost certainly ended the night in the same position after drawing 12 free passes against Wichita State pitching. They have a truly staggering total through five games: 50.
“Coach Birmingham preaches a lot about plate discipline,” said DeVito. “We’re letting the ball get deep and we’re definitely not swinging at bad pitches.”
Jared Mang and Jack Zoellner, batting in front of DeVito, benefited the most from the slugger’s big night. Zoellner scored three runs and Mang added a career-high four. Luis Gonzalez chipped in with four hits out of the leadoff spot, and Carl Stajduhar added his second home run of the year.
Most of Wichita State’s offense came with two outs in the ninth when a series of walks, which were the first issued by UNM in the game, led to five runs.
Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field. Sophomore Tyler Stevens will start on the mound for the Lobos. ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM will carry the game. It will also be streamed on the Mountain West Network at GoLobos.com, and televised locally on Comcast channel 26.
Notes: The Lobos have recorded 10 or more hits in all five games this season … Taylor Duree came on in relief for UNM and made his 65th career appearance, tied for sixth all time at UNM … redshirt freshman Jake Nelson made his first career appearance and recorded the final out of the game … Gonzalez and Dalton Bowers executed a double steal in the third inning, which allowed Bowers to become the first Lobo to steal home since he pulled off the feat last year against Northwestern on Feb. 14.