Lobo Offense Returns, but UNM Loses to No. 4 Texas Tech
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Jared Mang broke out of his slump in a big way, going for 3-for-5 with a home run and five runs batted in, but it wasn’t enough as the No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders banged out 22 hits, including a cycle and eight runs batted in for Josh Jung as Texas Tech defeated New Mexico 20-9 at Santa Ana Star Field.
Along with Jared Mang, Connor Mang also homered, the first of his Lobo career, and the first time in either high school or college that the brothers both homered in the same game.
The Lobos, which had only scored six runs in their last four games, got it going against Texas Tech, a team UNM lost to 7-2 earlier this year. The Lobos overall banged out 13 hits on a day in which the wind was blowing out to right center at 28 miles per hour, with gusts up to 42 MPH. UNM also had two doubles and two home runs.
UNM took a 3-2 lead in the opening inning. After a leadoff walk to Hayden Schilling and a ground rule double by Justin Watari, Jared Mang doubled to center to tie the game at two. After a single by Daniel Zakozek to right, Mang scored on a double play grounder, making it 3-2. It was one of three double plays UNM hit into in the game.
Brian Coffey, in his first start, held the Red Raiders scoreless in the second, but Texas Tech struck for four runs in the third. Two of the hits in the inning would have been easy outs on any day without the wind, but instead, they went for a two-run double and a two-run triple.
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) April 18, 2018
The wind really hurt in the fourth with Nathaniel Garley on the mound. After two straight outs to open the inning, Garley walked Gabe Holt. Cody Farhat then hit a ball that looked to be out play behind home plate, but the wind blew it back into play, and it landed about 40 feet in front of home plate for what officially went down as a double to the pitcher. Josh Jung, who had already singled and doubled, homered to left center and it was 9-3.
UNM’s offense stayed the course, scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Three straight hits, including a wind-blown pop-up that fell in center field off the bat of Daniel Herrera, scored a run in the fourth. Zakozek’s infield single scored Watari in the fifth. Jared Mang’s single drove in a run in the sixth, and Connor Mang’s home run to left, the only one that wasn’t with the wind, accounted for UNM’s run in the seventh. His brother Jared launched his two-run shot in the eighth.
UNM used seven pitchers on the day, recording seven strikeouts. Coffey took the loss in his first start, one in which he deserved a better fate.
The Lobos dropped to 12-22-1 overall, while Texas Tech improved to 30-8. The Lobos host UNLV in an important conference series as UNM attempts to get back in the Mountain West tournament hunt. Friday night’s game at 6:30 p.m. and it’s Bark in the Park night, so all fans are encouraged to bring their dogs. The game is also a “Teal Game” for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Saturday’s 2 p.m. contest is UNM’s “Lobos Love Pink” game, and Sunday’s 1 p.m. game is Yoga at the Park, brought to the fans Defined Fitness, with yoga on the grass area prior to the game.
Additionally, Lobo softball is home as well all three days at 6 p.m., noon and noon, and both tennis teams host Air Force on Saturday, with the women’s playing at 10 a.m. and the men right afterwards. Each day will feature $2 admission.