ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (29-13, 16-5 MW) nearly completed a six-run comeback but ultimately lost the series finale against the San Diego State Aztecs (12-25, 5-10 MW) Sunday, 10-9. The Lobos took the overall weekend series, 2-1.
The Lobos trailed 9-3 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning and had not put together a multiple run rally in an inning to that point. However, the Lobos scored six runs over the last two frames, but do to a run in the top of the ninth, finished a run shy of the Aztecs.
“That’s who we are,” stated head coach Ray Birmingham. “We have a lot of clutch hitting. It’s never over for us, offensively. To tell you the truth, it’s just hard to have to score 10 runs a game. We have to do a better job of pitching.”
Erick Migueles came up big late for the Lobos and finished the day 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored on a three-run blast in the eighth. Andre Vigil also had a big day, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Lobos held the lead briefly after they scored the first run in the second inning. Jack Zoellner hit a one-out single to reach base. In the following at bat, Andre Vigil slipped a double down the right field line to score the base runner.
In the top of the third, a pair of errors helped the Aztecs start the first of two four-run rallies. Down, 4-1, the Lobos left bases loaded in back-to-back innings without scoring. However, after the Aztecs posted another run, they would finally poke one through in the fifth. Chris DeVito hit a leadoff double straight to centerfield and advanced to third on a hit from Carl Stajduhar. Pitcher Matt Villalobos came in to pinch hit for DeVito, and was plated on a Migueles hit through the right side.
In the sixth, the Lobos posted their third run. Jared Holley reached base on a seven-pitch walk and was moved into scoring position on a bunt single from Reece Weber. In the following at bat, Holley advanced to third but was able to take home plate on a fielding error. The Lobos were within two runs of the Aztecs, but San Diego State posted four runs in another error-aided side in the seventh.
Down six in the eighth, the Lobo offense showed that no lead is insurmountable, nearly erasing the deficit in one frame. Luis Gonzalez and Stajduhar reached base to start the rally on a single and walk respectively. With two outs on the board, Migueles created instant offense with his three-run bomb past right centerfield.
With the bases cleared, the Lobos kept it going when Vigil was hit by a pitch. He immediately scored when Michael Eaton smacked a triple to left centerfield. Scottie Graham reached base on balls to put the tying run on base, but the Lobos could not get him across.
The Aztecs put an insurance run on the board in the ninth, pushing their lead to 10-7. The Lobos nearly completed the six-run comeback in the final side. Gonzalez hit a leadoff single to right centerfield before Holley was hit by a pitch. Stajduhar picked up his first RBI of the day on a single to left field and represented the tying run on first base. With two outs, Andre Vigil blasted a ball up the middle, plating Holley and putting pinch runner Jacob Westerman on third base. With the tying run 90 feet away, the final play of the game came on a grounder to third, ending what had shaped up to be an incredible comeback.
Starter Colton Thomson (6-2) was the pitcher of record for the Lobos, allowing two earned runs and seven hits. He struck out three Aztecs over six innings. The bullpen gave up just two earned runs combined over the last three frames.
The Lobos will play their final home nonconference game Tuesday when they take on New Mexico State at 6 p.m. in the Rio Grande Rivalry. The game will broadcast live on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
NOTES: The Lobos have not lost a weekend series against the Aztecs at home since 2004…Jared Holley’s hit by pitch in the ninth was the 37th of his career, one short of the program record…The Lobos left 16 runners on base Sunday, including the bases loaded three times…The Lobos batted .444 when leading off an inning…From the eighth inning to the ninth, the Lobos batted .500 and saw five different pitchers.
Lobos Fall to SDSU in Near Comeback Effort
