March 18, 2007
IRVINE, Calif. – Despite pounding out 11 hits, the Lobo baseball team struggled to push runs across the plate for the third straight game, falling 13-1 to 29th-ranked UC-Irvine. The Anteaters scored 13 runs on 24 hits, handing the Lobos a 13-1 loss, their fourth straight.
Four singles in the top of the first put New Mexico on the scoreboard, giving the Lobos their first lead in the three-game series. Junior Ian Hollick drove in senior Daniel Stovall, taking the 1-2 pitch into center field. However, UC-Irvine’s Taylor Holiday led off the bottom of the inning with a single, took second on a balk and third on a wild pitch before scoring the tying run on a grounder to second.
One inning later, the Anteaters scored four more on five hits and ever looked back. They scored nine runs on 13 hits off of junior starter Jacob Norton, forcing him out after 4.2 innings. Junior Adam Skelton and sophomore Brandon Hewett combined for 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three and two hits, respectively. UC-Irvine didn’t score on New Mexico again until the eighth inning, plating four on six hits.
The Lobos continued to hit throughout the game, posting seven after three innings, which was one more than they recorded in each of the first two games in the series. New Mexico had a runner on base in all but two innings, stranding nine runners for the game.
Four Lobos recorded multiple hits, including freshman Derek Pilkington, who finished 2-for-3 with a double. Hollick was 2-for-4 with the lone RBI and freshman Adam Courcha was 2-for-5 with two doubles. Holiday, Aaron Lowenstein and Tyler Vaughn led the Anteaters. Holiday was 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs, Lowenstein was 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs and Vaughn was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Norton fell to 1-5 with the loss while UC-Irvine’s starter, Cory Hamilton, picked up the win.
The Lobos, now 10-15 overall, return home to host New Mexico State for the final match-up in the four-game series. UNM holds a 2-1 lead. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m.