Lobos Get Three in Ninth to Stun Fresno State 5-4
FRESNO, Calif. — Down 4-0 in the eighth inning with just six hits to speak of, things didn’t look good for New Mexico. However, UNM has had a few epic comebacks against Fresno State, and Friday night was no exception. Down 4-0 in the eighth and 4-2 in the ninth, UNM got back-to-back homers to tie it and a two-out single by Danny Collier for the lead as New Mexico came back to stun Fresno State 5-4 on the road.
Down 4-0 after seven, UNM had just failed to capitalize on a two-out, bases loaded situation in the eighth. UNM though once again loaded the bases, this time with no one out. First, Robby Campillo beat out an infield single, and then Justin Watari walked. Dan Herrera pinch hit for Brayden Merritt, and he walked on four pitches to load the bases.
Fresno State went to closer Jamison Hill, but he walked pinch hitter Richard Ware to force in a run, and then Danny Collier hit a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2 with pinch runner Larry Leitha moving to third, but UNM couldn’t do any more damage. Hayden Schilling struck out and Jeff Deimling grounded to second to end the threat.
Malachi Emond, who cleaned up a mess in the bottom of the seventh to keep the game at 4-0, worked a perfect eighth to give UNM a chance and while UNM hasn’t been known for the long ball this season, the long ball is what got them back in the game. Chris Dunn took the first pitch he saw and drilled one over the wall in right field to make it 4-3. That brought up Derek Marshall, who worked the count to 2-1 before he deposited one over the right field wall to give UNM back-to-back home runs, tying the game at 4-4.
“It really was a total team effort by a young team,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “The homers by the freshmen were incredible and Collier’s clutch hit was amazing.”
Highlights: Anatomy of a comeback #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/RcRsMrtlS2
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Robby Campillo then reached on an error, and after an out, Larry Leitha walked to put runners on first and second. Richard Ware grounded into a fielder’s choice, moving Campillo to third, and he scored when Collier lined a single to right, giving the Lobos a 5-4 lead, which they handed over to closer Christian Tripp.
Tripp delivered again, earning his third save in as many chances. He got the powerful Miles Tomczak swinging and then Zach Ashford looking for two outs, and he slammed the door by coaxing a groundout from Korby Batesole to end it.
While the hitting late was the story, Birmingham acknowledged the two innings of scoreless relief by Malachi Emond to keep UNM in the game. “He was the man with all those zeros. That was big for us.”
The Lobos will hit the field again in at 1 p.m. Mountain Time, earlier than originally scheduled to attempt to get the game in before evening showers. The final game of the series was moved back to 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
NOTES: Fresno State was 9-1 at home entering the game, and the dropped to 9-6 overall, and 0-4 in the league … UNM had hit three home runs over the first 114 innings before going back-to-back in the ninth … Emond picked up his first win, and lowered his ERA to 2.25 … Tripp now has a win and three saves in four appearances … the Lobos now have six .300 hitters … Daniel Zakosek made his second start.