March 5, 2007
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After producing just 17 hits in the first three games of the Domino’s Pizza Aggie Baseball Classic, the Lobos bats came to life, pounding out 18 hits en route to a 17-5 victory over Saint Louis Monday morning. The win snapped a five-game UNM losing streak, improving the team’s record to 7-11 overall.
New Mexico jumped on the board in the first inning thank to a Billiken error in left followed by a two-RBI double to left center by sophomore Dane Hamilton. Two innings later, another Billiken error and a sacrifice fly by freshman Scott Gracey led to three more runs and a 6-1 lead.
The scoring continued in the fourth and fifth as the Lobos posted two more runs in each inning, extending their lead to 10-1. Junior Jordan Pacheco singled and scored in the fourth and doubled for two RBIs in the fifth.
Freshman Ryan Escarcega, who allowed three earned runs and four hits through the first 4.0 innings, topped off his day striking out two Saint Louis hitters in the hitless fifth inning. Freshman Jarrad Watkins came in to start the sixth and cruised all the way to the ninth, holding the Billikens hitless.
If the win wasn’t solidified before the ninth, the Lobos erased all doubt, tacking up seven more runs. New Mexico recorded five singles and three walks in the inning. Senior Daniel Stovall plated two as did Hamilton with singles to the outfield.
Four Lobos, Pacheco, Stovall, Hamilton and freshman Mark Rockey, all posted three hits on the day. Hamilton drove in a team-high four runs while Pacheco and senior Jay Russell scored a team-high three runs. Only B.J. Rodrigue had multiple hits for Saint Louis, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Escarcega earned the win, his first as a Lobo. Eric Rohr suffered the loss, allowing 13 hits, 10 runs (eight earned), three walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Watkins line finished at 4.0 innings, two hits, two runs, two walks and two strikeouts as he picked up the save.
The Lobos return home for a three-game series with Rhode Island this weekend at Isotopes Park. The first game is slated for 6 p.m. Friday.