April 3, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Lobo baseball team dropped an 8-2 decision Tuesday night to the Albuquerque Isotopes in an exhibition game played at Isotopes Park. New Mexico had five different players record a hit with freshman Scott Gracey collecting the only RBI after going 1-for-3.
Back-to-back singles to kick off the game gave the Isotopes a 1-0 lead. Eric Reed led off with a perfectly-placed bunt down the third base line to get aboard. He didn’t stay on first for long, stealing second and scoring on Robert Andino’s single to right.
The Lobos charged back in the top of the second, putting runners are second and third with one out. Junior Drew McDonald hit a sharp grounder to third that Scott Seabol just couldn’t pick up, allowing senior Daniel Stovall to score the first run for UNM. Gracey followed with a single through the right side, plating junior Matt Hibbitts for a 2-1 advantage.
Freshman Shane Dyer, seeing time on the mound for the first time since injuring his shoulder on Feb. 27 vs. Texas Tech, made the start for New Mexico, holding the Isotopes scoreless in the second. In his 2.0 innings pitched, he allowed one run on five hits and a walk with a strikeout.
The Isotopes reclaimed the lead in the third thanks to a three-run home run by Seabol. The `Topes added another run in the fourth and three in the sixth.
For the game, Albuquerque out-hit New Mexico, 12-5. Sophomore Max Willett was 1-for-1 while McDonald was 1-for-2. Both Stovall and Hibbitts were 1-for-3 with a run scored. Seabol finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run while teammate Zach Sorensen was 2-for-2 with three RBI.
The Lobos return to Mountain West Conference action this week, playing a three-game series at San Diego State beginning Thursday night at 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT.