Lobos hold off Central Michigan, 8-7
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It got a little interesting near the end, but The University of New Mexico baseball team secured its third straight victory with an 8-7 win over Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field.
The Lobos (4-3) led 6-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh when Jeremy Conant came through with a two-out, two-run RBI single for what seemed like unneeded insurance as UNM took an 8-2 lead over the Chippewas (2-5) heading into the eighth.
It turned out those runs were vital.
Central Michigan put up five runs in the top of the eighth to cut the Lobo lead to 8-7 before UNM closer Christian Tripp got UNM out of the jam. He was untouchable in the ninth, striking out the side in order to wrap up the game for the Lobos.
UNM redshirt freshman Chris Dunn, who went 3-for-3 with two triples, two RBI and a run, said though CMU was gaining momentum in that eighth inning, there wasn’t any panic.
“This game shows the type of team we are,” Dunn said. “Just because we are up a bunch of runs (and a team comes back), we aren’t going to give up. We are just trying to get Tripp the ball at the end of the game and we know it’s over after that.”
POSTGAME: Chris Dunn (3/3 2 3B, 2 RBI) and Christian Tripp (Save, 1.2 IP, 4 Ks) talk after the Lobos’ 8-7 win over Central Michigan. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/D6Zb1zGbEd
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 25, 2018
The victory secured freshman left-hander Robert Gasser his first victory, going 5.2 innings and giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Tripp picked up his second save of the year, going 1.2 innings and giving up two singles with four strikeouts.
“Minus that eighth inning today, our pitching staff has been throwing pretty well,” Tripp said. “Our starters are giving us quality innings and we are getting it to the bullpen and we are doing our jobs.”
The Lobos jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Larry Leitha led off the inning with a double and was followed by the switch-hitting Dunn who smacked an RBI single to make it 1-0. Garrett Gouldsmith followed with a single through the right side on a hit-and-run and Nunn scored on a fielder’s choice from Danny Collier to make it 2-0.
Central Michigan tied it up 2-2 in the top of the fourth before the Lobos answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a Dunn RBI triple and a Gouldsmith sac fly to make it 4-2. The Lobos added two more in the fifth and two more in the seventh to make it 8-2 – just enough to hold off the Chippewas.
B4 | Chris Dunn does it again as he hits an RBI triple to score the big fella Jeremy Conant from first to give the Lobos a 3-2 lead on Central Michigan. #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/k8t1urlxUL
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 24, 2018
Along with Dunn’s big day, Conant went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run and Collier finished 2-for-5 with a double and RBI while Gouldsmith finished 1-for-1 with an RBI and a pair of walks.
Though the Lobos finished with eight runs, they also left seven on base and UNM coach Ray Birmingham said his team needs to come through better in run-scoring situations.
“Offensiely we just can’t find consistency,” Birmingham said. “… Right now we can’t find guys that are going to consistently get it done. Conant did a good job of putting it in play and he made things happen. Dunn did a good job. They are both physically talented. … But we keep leaving guys in scoring position.”
Pat Leatherman got the loss for Central Michigan, going 4.2 innings and giving up six runs (four earned) on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Evan Kratt went 3-for-5 for the Chippewas to raise his average to .478.
The Lobos and Chippewas play the series finale noon Sunday at Santa Ana Star Field.