Feb. 27, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico looked poised to win its second straight game against Texas Tech Tuesday afternoon, holding an 8-2 lead going into the sixth. But the Red Raiders rallied, scoring three in the sixth, two in the seventh and three more in the eighth to win 10-8 at Isotopes Park.
Texas Tech’s Roger Kieschnick extended his hit streak to 12 games in the first inning with a solo home run to right field.
Junior Jordan Pacheco got the run back for the Lobos, driving in senior Jay Russell in the bottom of the first with a double to left. Junior Adam Skelton came in to relieve freshman starter Shane Dyer in the top of the second, using only four pitches to get three Tech batters out and give UNM a chance to take the lead.
Freshman Adam Courcha gave the Lobos the lead quickly, leading off the bottom of the second with his first collegiate home run, which was a bomb sent into the bullpens over the left field fence. Senior Matt Foote brought home freshman Mark Rockey with a RBI-ground out to second, increasing the UNM lead to 3-1.
Courcha plated two more runs in the third with a double off the wall in left center. Leading 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Courcha scored on a single off the pitcher by Foote and then Foote scored on a RBI single from Pacheco for the final two UNM runs of the game.
Texas Tech posted three hits in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Kieschnick led off the sixth with his second homer of the game, tripled in the seventh and doubled for the second time in the eighth. Kyle Martin also aided mightily in the rally, doubling in the sixth and seventh and homering in the eighth.
Freshman Scott Gracey suffered the loss, allowing three hits and three earned runs with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings. Paul Gonzalez earned the win, throwing 4.0 hitless, scoreless innings, giving up a walk with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Courcha and Pacheco led New Mexico, going 3-for-5. Courcha drove in three runs and score twice while Pacheco drove in two. Kieschnick finished 5-for-5 with three RBI and five runs scored while Martin was 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.
The Lobos return to action this weekend, participating in the Dominos’ Aggies Baseball Classic hosted by Texas A&M. New Mexico plays Saint Louis on Friday and Monday at 12:30 p.m. CT/11:30 a.m. MT. The Lobos also play defending national champions Oregon State on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. CT/11:30 a.m. MT and Texas A&M on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT.