April 20, 2007
SALT LAKE CITY – The Lobo baseball team (17-23, 6-8 MWC) held a 4-2 lead over Utah (18-20, 7-4 MWC) after three and half innings but New Mexico couldn’t keep the Utes off the board in the fourth, fifth and sixth as Utah scored seven runs en route to a 10-4 victory. The win, Utah’s fourth straight over the Lobos, tied for the Utes’ longest win streak against New Mexico in the series history.
After Utah scored a run on three hits in the bottom of the first, UNM tied the game in the third when Max Willett doubled, plating Scott Gracey from second base. The tie didn’t last long as posted three more hits for a run and a 2-1 lead.
Matt Foote tripled with the bases loaded in the fourth, driving in three runs and giving New Mexico a 4-2 lead. However, Utah’s three runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth and sixth shot the Utes out in front for the rest of the game.
Utah out-hit New Mexico, 18-12, including an 11-5 advantage from the fifth inning on. Matt Hibbitts led the Lobos in hits, going 3-for-5 while Foote was 2-for-4 with a team-high three RBI. Gracey was also 2-for-4 with a run scored. Jesse Shriner and Corey Shimada led Utah, going 3-for-4 with Shriner driving in a team-high three runs and Shimada scoring a team-leading two runs with a RBI.
Eric King improved to 5-1 with the win, allowing nine four runs on nine hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 5.0 innings. Utah’s bullpen threw 4.0 innings, giving up just three hits with three strikeouts. Stephen Smith took the loss, falling to 4-6. Smith surrendered eight runs on 13 hits and five walks with two strikeouts.
The series concludes tomorrow at noon as Utah goes for the sweep. First pitch is slated for noon MT.