ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (29-12, 16-4 MW) sealed a series victory Saturday with a 13-7 win over the San Diego State Aztecs (11-25, 4-10 MW).
Jared Holley led the offense with a perfect day at the dish, going 4-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Reigning Mountain West Conference Player of the Week Carl Stajduhar had a game-high four RBI while finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jack Zoellner had just one hit, but made it count, blasting a three-run home run in a big second inning.
Tyler Stevens (6-2) earned the victory over 6.2 innings of work. He allowed eight hits and four runs, while striking out three batters.
The Lobos took the lead in the first inning and never gave it up. Holley reached base first on a six-pitch walk and was sent to third on a Chris DeVito ground rule double over the left field fence. The duo would be plated on one swing by Stajduhar, who poked a single through the right side after the defense shifted left.
Up 2-0, the Lobos had their biggest inning of work in the bottom of the second, scoring eight runs and taking a 10-1 lead. Jared Mang and Andrew Pratt led off the side with back-to-back singles, allowing Dalton Bowers to plate Mang on a sacrifice fly.
The sacrifice preceded a run of seven straight hits, starting with bunt single from Luis Gonzalez. In the 2-4 slot, Holley, DeVito and Stajduhar converted on three straight RBI singles, leaving two runners on in the process. That set up a big three-run homer from Jack Zoellner. On a full count, the first baseman took advantage of the wind blowing out to left, sending the ball clear past the left field fence. The seven-hit streak was completed by a double from Andre Vigil and a RBI single from Mang.
After the Aztecs scored their second run in the top of the third, the Lobos scored two more in the bottom side. Gonzalez led off with a single to left field and was immediately plated on a double by Holley, who whipped the ball down the left field line. Two batters later, Holley would come home on Stajduhar’s second triple of the season. The Lobos ended the frame with a commanding 12-2 lead.
The Lobos went quiet during the middle innings, posting three scoreless frames. San Diego State made it interesting, scoring two runs in the seventh and three more in the eighth. The Lobos returned to the scoreboard with their last run in the bottom of the seventh. Mang led off by drawing a four-pitch walk. After two outs and a single from Gonzalez, Mang scored on a single up the middle from Holley. Fernando Fernandez pitched the final frame, protecting the Lobos’ six-run lead with a perfect appearance.
The Lobos will look to close the weekend series strong on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will broadcast live on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
NOTES: Five Lobos finished the game with multiple hits…The Lobos batted .571 with runners in scoring position…The Lobos threw a 60 percent strike percentage…This was the 40th win for the program over San Diego State at home and the 75th all-time.
Early Outburst Pushes Lobos over Aztecs, 13-7
