May 3, 2007
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – For just the second time this season, the New Mexico baseball team (21-24, 7-9 MWC) was shut out, this time by BYU’s Jesse Craig. Craig threw a three-hit complete game, holding the Lobos scoreless for the first time since a 9-0 loss to Illinois State on Feb. 17.
Craig was in the midst of a pitching dual for most of the game as Lobo starter Stephen Smith matched him inning-for-inning. Through seven, both pitchers had a three-hit shutout.
Smith began to tire in the eighth and allowed two consecutive hits to lead off the inning. BYU’s Dan Vargas hit a grounder just in front of the mound to Smith with runners at first and second. Smith tried to get the lead runner at third but was late on the throw, which loaded the bases with no outs.
Cougar leadoff hitter Kent Walton, the fourth batter in the eighth, took the first pitch he saw from Smith and belted it deep enough to center that he drove in Leon Johnson from third to pick up the sacrifice.
Smith faced one more batter before giving way to Bobby Moore. Moore stuggled to hit the plate, walking two batters. The last batter walked in a run, giving BYU a 2-0 lead.
Moore threw one pitch to Kasey Ko, then handed the ball to Jarrad Watking. Watkins threw three straight strikes, getting Ko out swinging to end the inning.
BYU added one more run in the ninth as Vargas tripled with a runner on, picking up an RBI.
At the end of the night, Smith’s line finished with a season-high 7.2 innings and nine strikeouts, allowing two runs on five htis and three walks. Watkins went 1.1 innings, giving up a run on two hits with a strikeout.
Jordan Pacheco pounded out two of UNM’s three hits with the other coming from the bat of Ian Hollick. Stephen Wells and Johnson led BYU, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The series continues tomorrow night at 6 p.m. BYU (27-16, 11-5 MWC) has won five straight.