Lobos Drop Series Opener to UNLV

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The 24th-ranked University of New Mexico baseball team dropped an 11-2 contest to UNLV Friday. On a night when the wind was blowing straight out at 30 miles per hour, the Rebels scored six runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back as UNM saw its nine-game winning streak come to an end.

The Lobos (31-12-1, 14-5) threatened numerous times off UNLV’s (26-15, 14-8) ace, Erick Fedde, including putting two men in scoring position in both the first and third innings, but couldn’t claw back into the game.

They had the bases loaded again in the fourth, but managed just one run on an RBI groundout by Lane Milligan. UNM scored its other run in the eighth. Andre Vigil led off with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Sam Haggerty.

Vigil and Chase Harris both had three hits for UNM, including two doubles for Harris, to lead the Lobos’ offense.

Drew Bridges made his first appearance for UNM since March 14, tossing two innings of relief. He allowed five runs, three earned, but struck out four in a very important development for the Lobos. Heading into the conference tournament, and possibly the NCAA regionals, UNM will need its Friday-night starter back in order to be successful this postseason.

The teams will meet again at 2:05 p.m. MT Saturday. Junior lefty Colton Thomson will take the mound for the Lobos. Fans can watch a stream of the game at GoLobos.com or listen to Rob Portnoy call the game on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.

Notes: Harris is now hitting a team best .375 on the year … Vigil continues to hit well in conference play and is now at .438 in MW play.