ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In a game that looked every bit like one between the top two teams in the league, New Mexico got a pair of two-out run scoring singles, and that was more than enough for Carson Schneider, who was brilliant for 8.1 innings as the Lobos defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs 2-1 to take over sole possession of first place in the Mountain West.
The team teams resume their series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field. Admission is $5, and the game will be shown on uPublic 26 as well as online via webstream at GoLobos.com. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM and online viawww.1017theteam.com.
New Mexico picked up a run in the fourth inning when Chris DeVito opened with a infield single, and he went to second when the throw kicked off of him and into right field. Moving to third with two outs, he scored when freshman Jared Mang knocked a single to center, making it 1-0.
The Lobos pushed the lead to 2-0 in the eighth with a big insurance run that was set up by a strikeout of all things. Luis Gonzalez swung and missed at a breaking ball in the dirt, and it got through new catch Joe Prior. The ball hit the plate umpire’s leg, allowing Prior to quickly recover and throw to first, but his throw was high, allowing Gonzalez to reach on the error.
After he was erased on a fielder’s choice, DeVito crossed him to third with his third hit of the game, and then Carl Stajduhar, who was brilliant defensively all game, singled through the hole at short to make it 2-0.
The run proved important when Schneider ran into his only trouble in the ninth. To that point he was utterly brilliant, striking out six, allowing just three hits and baffling Fresno State with an array of pitches. However, in the ninth, a leadoff double by Scott Silva proved to be Fresno State’s lone run when Brody Russell knocked him in with one out.
UNM went to the pen and called on career saves leader Victor Sanchez to face righty Aaron Arruda, and he struck him out, with Russell stealing second. UNM went situational again, bringing in lefty Alex Estrella, and he froze Jesse Medrano on a 3-2 pitch for the final out and his fourth save.
“That was two really good starting pitchers, two really well coached teams, and it was a great baseball game,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “Carson located well, Carl got himself a couple of knocks, and we did some good things defensively.”
The defensive play was an understatement. Dalton Bowers turned in a brilliant play deep in the hole to prevent a run, sliding to a knee and gunning a runner at first, and Stajduhar had three brilliant plays at third. Andre Vigil also had a great running catch to take away extra bases on a ball hit to the corner.
The win puts UNM at 21-9 overall and 10-3 in the Mountain West, while Fresno State dropped to 21-10 overall and 9-4 in the Mountain West.
NOTES: UNM now has 12 saves on the year between Sanchez (7), Estrella (4) and Austin Isenhart (1) … DeVito raised his average to a staggering .425 … The Lobos, who ranked nationally in double plays turned, rolled two more on Friday.