March 11, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The New Mexico baseball team used a monster second inning to muscle past Savannah State, 20-7, Friday night at Isotopes Park. UNM scored 15 runs in the second and tied an NCAA record with 11 consecutive hits in the inning. Sixteen straight Lobos reached base in the inning, which was only four shy of tying another NCAA mark. All in all, the Lobos (8-9) tallied 13 hits in the inning, including five doubles, two triples and a homer.
Ian Hollick led the Lobos by going 5-for-6 at the plate, including a triple and a double, in addition to scoring four times. Chris Carlson belted his fourth homer of the season and went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs. Jordan Pacheco extended his hitting streak to 13 games by collecting three hits in five at-bats, including his team-leading third triple of the year.
Chris Dabbs, starting his first game in center field, responded by nailing two doubles, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Jeff Grady (2-for-4, triple) and Ryan Barba (2-for-5, double) also collected three RBI each for UNM.
In addition to the 20 runs, the Lobos also slugged out a season-high 23 hits and seven doubles.
Jason Fernandez (4-2) earned his team-best fourth victory of the season, tossing five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits.
Javier Fialla (2-3) took the loss for the Tigers, who fell to 12-6 on the season.
The two teams will meet for game two of the series Saturday, March 12 at 6 p.m. at Isotopes Park.
NOTES:
The school record for runs in an inning is 20. On March 13, 1993, the Lobos scored 20 times against Utah at Lobo Field. The NCAA record is 21.
The Lobos’ 11 consecutive hits ties an NCAA record along with Cal St. Los Angeles, who had 11 straight hits against UC Santa Barbara on May 21, 1977.