LUBBOCK, Texas — The 23rd ranked Red Raiders of Texas Tech had an answer every time New Mexico took a lead, scoring a pair of two-out runs in the fifth to take the lead for good on the way to a 14-10 victory, Texas Tech’s first win over UNM in the last four meetings.
UNM made a valiant comeback effort in the ninth inning down five, somehow bringing the tying run to the plate. With one out Chris DeVito walked and Jacob Westerman came in to run. After Carl Stajduhar was struck out, UNM was down to its last out, but it battled and stayed alive. First Jared Zoellner singled just past a diving second baseman, and then Jared Mang walked to load the bases. Reece Weber grounded to third, but was safe when the ball was bobbled, scoring Westerman to make it 14-10 and bringing the tying run to the plate in pinch hitter Austin Bell. Bell grounded out to end the game.
It wasn’t the first comeback attempt for UNM, but ultimately it was the only one that wasn’t successful. The Lobos twice came from behind with big innings, both times via the long ball. In the third inning down 2-0, the Lobos got RBI hits from Jared Holley and DeVito, the latter extending his hitting streak to 18 games. Stajduhar, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week, the launched a mammoth three-run home run to left to make it 5-2.
Texas Tech answered with a 6-run bottom half to chase starter James Harrington to give the Red Raiders an 8-5 lead. UNM answered that again in the fifth, again with a long ball from Stajduhar. DeVito doubled home Holley to make it 8-6, and then Stajduhar did it again with his second home run of the game, tying it up at 8-8. Jack Zoellner than made it back-to-back home runs when he took the next pitch right down the line and into the Lobo bullpen for a 9-8 lead.
Stajduhar’s five RBI game tied his career-high, which he set last April 18 against UNLV. It also marked his second two-homer game of his career as he had a pair last year against Fresno State.
It was up to Christian Tripp to hold that lead, but after getting the first two men of the inning Stephen Smith doubled, one of his four hits, and then scored on a single by Zach Davis. Davis then stole one of his four bases on the day and then with Alex Estrella on the mound, Tanner Gardner singled in Davis to make it 10-9. That hit was the first allowed by Estrella after 7.1 innings to start the season.
Davis was a thorn in UNM’s side all game. “He was the difference,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “He scored four runs by stealing second on pitchouts. You can’t steal first but he can steal second. He’s a 6.2 60 runner. We also pitched up in the zone a lot today.”
Tech added a single tally in the sixth and then they got a cushion with a three-run double by Eric Gutierrez in the seventh inning to give the Red Raiders a 14-9 lead that held to the ninth.
UNM did get good outings in relief from Jacob Nelson and Matt Villalobos, who combined to retire the final four men for Tech.
New Mexico returns home to Albuquerque just in time to get on a plane to head to California for a trip to San Diego to take on San Diego State and the Aztecs. Those games will be Thursday through Saturday due to Easter Sunday. UNM will then take on Sacramento State for a two-game series in Sacramento. The games against San Diego State will be at 7 p.m. Mountain Time on Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Notes: Duree’s appearance was the 70th of his career, and he is now five behind Joe Coleman for first on the career list … DeVito is now 31 for 75 over his 18-game hitting streak (.413) … Texas Tech was 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts … there were seven hit batters in the game, three by UNM and four by Texas Tech … UNM has 12 hits and had 20 reach via hit, walk or HBP, but UNM was done in by three double plays … in the first inning UNM turned an odd double play when, with runners on second and third, Zoellner fielded a ground ball at first base, stepped on the bag, and alertly ran towards third. The runner of third held close to the bag, but the runner from second was off on the crack of the bat. Zoellner threw to third for the out and a 3-5 double play … Jared Mang went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .317.