ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico baseball team exploded offensively for the first time this season, including a nine-run first inning, while UNM sophomore Drew Gillespie shut down the Central Michigan bats over the final half of the game during the Lobos’ 20-9 victory Thursday night at Santa Ana Star Field.
The Lobos (2-3) sent 14 players to the plate in the first inning – including Jeff Deimling hitting a pair of RBI singles – to overcome an early 1-0 deficit and take a 9-1 lead.
UNM added to it in the second as an RBI single by Connor Mang and a two-run single by Hayden Schilling pushed the advantage over the Chippewas (2-3) to 12-1.
B2 | Schilling turns on one for a two-run double as the Lobo lead grows to 12-1 over Central Michigan. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/grti2blZtE
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 23, 2018
But Central Michigan didn’t go away as the Chippewas scored seven runs in the top of the fourth to cut the UNM lead to 12-8.
However, the Lobos scored at least one run in each of the final four innings while Gillespie came in and shut the door on Central Michigan. The right-hander went the final 4.2 innings and gave up an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks.
T8 | Gillespie is cruising as he gets a strikeout to end the eighth. Lobos lead Central Michigan 18-9. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/ewDDVRe9rX
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 23, 2018
“Our offense can explode at any time and we also know that the other offense can explode at any time as well,” Gillespie said. “I was just going out there and trying to minimize damage because I knew our team was going to score runs.”
UNM, which scored a combined 11 runs in its first four game, had five players with multiple hits led by Schilling’s 4-for-5 performance with four RBI, three runs, a double and a stolen base. Jeff Deimling went 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBI and two runs, Connor Mang went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs, Danny Collier was 2-for-5 with a triple, three runs and an RBI and Brayden Merritt went 2-for-2 with an RBI, run and a double.
UNM played 14 different position players during the game and coach Ray Birmingham said he wants to see who will step up.
“We’re still searching to put the right guys in the right spot,” Birmingham said. “Robby Campillo is starting to become the hitting catcher that we know he can be. Jeff Deimling is definitely a hitter for us. Collier hit the ball well today. Collier and Schilling had great at-bats and (Derek) Marshall played well and so did Merritt.”
James Harrington got the start for the Lobos and went three innings and gave up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and four walks.
Michael Brettell got the loss, going two innings and giving up 12 runs on 12 hits with four walks and no strikeouts. Evan Kratt led CMU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.
The Lobos and Chippewas play game two of their series 6 p.m. Friday at Santa Ana Star Field.