Colorado Springs, Colo. — Tyler Stevens did his best Houdini imitation for nearly seven innings. But just as Houdini tempted fate one too many times, so did Tyler and the Lobos, and it cost them a shot at a share of the Mountain West title and a No. 1 seed in the upcoming tournament, as the Lobos dropped a 1-0 decision to Air Force and their ace, Griffin Jax.
Jax threw a complete game, 8-hit shutout, walking no one and striking out nine, but he was nearly matched by Tyler Stevens.
Stevens, who took the hard-luck loss, went 6.1 innings, allowing nine hits and four walks. However, he struck out 10 and benefitted from a double play as well as he stranded 11 runners over the first six innings. However, the seventh was his, and UNM’s undoing.
After getting a ground out to start the inning, Jake Booker, Tyler Zabojnik and Spencer Draws each singled to load the bases. That brought in Christian Tripp from the bullpen, and on a 2-2 pitch, Shaun Mize singled for Air Force’s fourth hit in a row. Tripp would get the next two to strand three, but the damage was done.
UNM, a day after scoring 23 runs, couldn’t muster the timely hit when needed. Jack Zoellner was stranded on third after a two-out double and a wild pitch in the fourth. Luis Gonzalez opened the sixth with a single and went to second on a sacrifice, but Carl Stajduhar and Chris DeVito both struck out.
In the seventh, UNM got back-to-back two out singles but couldn’t do more damage, and in the eighth DeVito hit a hard shot with two outs and Holley on second, but Mize, who had the big hit, made a nice play up the middle to keep the game tied and retire DeVito.
In the ninth, UNM again had a shot as Zoellner opened the inning with a single. With Reece Weber pinch running, Andre Vigil came off the bench to sacrifice, but he couldn’t get the bunt down, eventually striking out. That proved costly when with two outs, Michael Eaton hit a pinch hit single that would have easily scored Weber from second. Instead it was first and second and two down for Dalton Bowers, who fouled out to deep left field for the final out.
With the top seed out of play, it’s very simple for UNM in terms of tournament seeding. A win on Saturday or a Nevada loss with tonight or tomorrow means UNM is the No. 2 seed in the tournament and will play Thursday night at Santa Ana Star Field at 7 p.m. If Nevada wins two and UNM loses tomorrow, the Lobos would be the three seed and have to play in the opening round on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. against the play-in game winner.
NOTES: It’s the first time UNM has been involved in three 1-0 games in the same season in school history, dating back to known records and the 1899 season (UNM lost to Arizona State 1-0 and defeated Sacramento State earlier this season) … Air Force stranded 15 runners on base … UNM’s 34-21 overall and 19-10 conference record is guaranteed to top last year’s 32-27 record (17-13 in conference).
Lobos Drop Title Chance with 1-0 Loss to Air Force
