March 3, 2007
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ninth-ranked Oregon State won its third straight against the Lobo baseball team (6-10) this afternoon, tapping junior starter Stephen Smith for six runs on 10 hits at the Domino’s Pizza Aggie Baseball Classic. UNM’s bullpen held the defending national champions scoreless but the Lobos couldn’t recover, falling 6-2.
Oregon State scored the first run in the top of the second but New Mexico hung tough and evened the game in the third. With the bases loaded and just one out, senior left fielder Jay Russell singled up the middle, bringing home junior catcher Drew McDonald.
Back-to-back singles and a wild pitch in the fourth plated two Beaver runs, giving Oregon State a 3-1 lead. OSU added three more on four hits, including a RBI-double from third baseman Drew George.
Freshman Brian Hill and sophomore Chad Itokazu kept the Lobos in the game, throwing 2.0 and 1.0 innings of relief, respectively. Both pitchers allowed just one hit.
Junior shortstop Jordan Pacheco gave the Lobos hope, leading off the ninth, reaching on an error by George at third. Pacheco scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore second baseman Dane Hamilton, but it was the second out in the inning, putting all the pressure on McDonald at the plate.
McDonald kept UNM alive with an infield single, putting runners are first and third. But OSU reliever Eddie Kunz got junior third baseman Ian Hollick to pop up, ending the game.
New Mexico recorded six hits, compared to Oregon State’s 12. Russell was the lone Lobo to post multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a RBI. Freshman Derek Pilkington was 1-for-2 with a walk while McDonald was 1-for-3 with a run scored. The only Beaver to pound out more than one hit was George, going 4-for-5 with two runs and a RBI.
Smith falls to 1-3 for UNM with the loss. He walked three and struck out three in 6.0 innings. OSU starter Mike Stutes (2-0) earned the win, giving up four hits, one run, one walk and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings.
The Lobos continue play tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT/5:30 p.m. MT with tournament host 19th-ranked Texas A&M.