March 24, 2005
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sophomore Chris Carlson went 3-for-4 with four RBI, including a key three-run homer in the eighth, to lead the New Mexico baseball team past UNLV, 10-8, Thursday afternoon at Isotopes Park. With the win, the Lobos improve to 12-12 (2-2 Mountain West) for the season, while UNLV falls to 9-17 (3-1 MWC).
Sophomore lefty Danny Ray Herrera nearly pitched his first career complete game, throwing 8.2 innings to earn his third win of the season. Herrera, who only allowed three hits through the first seven innings, was relieved with two outs and a runner on third in the ninth. Petr Pacas came on to strike out pinch-hitter Matt Fry to end the game and earn the save.
The Lobos broke open a 1-1 game with two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth. Matt Foote hit an RBI triple in the fourth and Daniel Stovall blasted a two-run shot in the fifth. Stovall collected three hits in five at-bats for the afternoon.
The Rebels cut it to 5-3 with two runs in the eighth, but UNM exploded for five runs in the eighth, led by Carlson’s three-run homer, to make it 10-3.
UNLV made things interesting with five runs in the ninth before Pacas struck out Fry.
Game two of the series is set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Isotopes Park.