UNM Drops Series Finale But UNM & AFA Go National
lead photo courtesy Air Force Baseball Twitter page (@AF_Baseball)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — New Mexico spotted Air Force nine runs in the first two innings, and never could get back in it as the Lobos dropped the series finale to the Falcons 21-8 on Air Force’s senior day.
The Lobos pounded out 17 more hits on the day, giving them 59 hits in the weekend series. Hayden Schilling had four more hits to continue his torrid week (he hit .615 on 8-for-13 hitting with two doubles and a homer and six RBI in just three starts) and Connor Mang and Daniel Herrera had three each.
UNM pounded out six doubles, including a ninth inning two-run double by Brayden Merritt, and Herrera had two, and Derek Marshall tripled. However, UNM struggled on the mound. Nathaniel Garley, who had been stellar since joining the weekend rotation with a 2.95 ERA, couldn’t get out of the second inning, allowing nine runs, all earned, in just 1.2 innings. Robert Gasser, Chad Smith and Brian Coffey combined for the next 5.1 innings, allowing 13 hits and 12 runs, seven earned.
The only reliever unscathed was James Harrington, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing just a walk.
The loss dropped UNM to 18-32-1 overall and the Lobos completed Mountain West play at 11-19. Air Force is now 24-26 overall and 12-14 in the Mountain West with three games remaining. Air Force is a half-game behind both UNLV and San José State for the final spot in the Mountain West Tournament.
While this will be a series remembered, at least statistically, for the offensive numbers (the teams combined for 68 runs, 98 hits, 21 doubles, three triples and six home runs), the series will be best remembered for the pregame “first hit” ceremony put together by both head coaches for Lio Ortega, a five-year old cancer patient and Lobo fan. Instead of throwing a first pitch, Lio, with Lobos and Falcons in the field and cheering him on, hit the first ball off the tee and raced around the bases (taking a very wide turn at third) for a Little League home run.
It’s getting a bit dusty in here… ??
?? @AF_Baseball @UNMLoboBaseball pic.twitter.com/1fAETo8WkR
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) May 13, 2018
Members of both teams roared, lifted Lio on their shoulders and chanted “Lio, Lio, Lio!”. Both teams then took a giant group photo.
The story, written up by Brent Briggeman of The Gazette (the photo and video are also courtesy of Brent), has gone national, including publicity from the NCAA Baseball Twitter feed. It was certainly the highlight of the weekend. Brent’s story in The Gazette is available here.
The Lobos have one series left, hosting UC Davis in non-conference action on Friday at 6:30, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field with the games on the Mountain West Network and broadcast on the radio at ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team. The Lobos will honor their seniors on Saturday prior to the game.
NOTES: UNM’s batting average has improved 17 points, from .258 at the start of the series with Air Force, to .275 … Sunday UNM struck out just three batters, the first time in six games vs. Air Force UNM didn’t strike out double digits.