ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Facing a struggling team at home in a midweek game, the University of New Mexico baseball team did what good squads do and took care of business. The Lobos (24-16) routed their Rio Grande Rivals, the New Mexico State Aggies, 22-3 Tuesday night in front of 857 fans at Lobo Field. After the Aggies (6-30-1) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, the Lobos scored the next 22 runs in their best offensive performance of the season.
Every UNM starter recorded at least one hit as the Lobos pounded out 25 base knocks, which was not only their second 20-hit game in their last five contests, but it was also a season high and their first time with that many in a game since May 4, 2013. It was also the first time UNM scored at least 20 runs in a game since the 2012 Mountain West Tournament championship game against San Diego State.
Aaron Siple led the way with his second five-hit game in the last week. Five others recorded at least two hits for UNM. Siple had a chance to tie UNM’s record for hits in a game, but he flew out in his last at bat. He was also left in the on-deck circle at the end of the eighth inning.
“We came out and put it on them quite a bit here,” said Siple, one of just four seniors on UNM’s squad. “I (am just) having fun, to be honest. I’m just trying to ride it out this last year and have as much fun as possible.”
Siple is having about as much fun as anyone could possibly have right now, as he has 16 hits in his last 26 at bats, and that includes an 0-for-4 performance on Saturday at UNLV. He finished 5-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs.
UNM batted around in both the second and third innings and sent nine batters to the plate in the fourth and fifth to tally 18 runs in those four frames alone. The Lobos added two more in the sixth and single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
UNM also walked 11times, the second time this season it drew at least 10 free passes. Danny Collier led the way with a career-high three base on balls.
Several other Lobos set new career highs in offensive categories. Lane Milligan drove in five runs and hit his first career homer. Dalton Bowers crossed the plate four times to set a new career best for runs scored. Reece Weber had his first two-hit game and also scored three times for the first time. Andre Vigil also scored three times for a career-high.
The one career-best that a Lobo pitcher recorded came from the starter Luis Gonzalez. The freshman lefty struck out five as he moved his record to 4-2 on the season. Preston Ryan pitched two scoreless frames, and Victor Sanchez tossed three.
But the story of the day was the UNM offense. Carl Stajduhar went 3-for-6, Jack Zoellner went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, and Bowers went 3-for-7. Even freshman catcher Scottie Graham, who came on as a defensive replacement, recorded his third hit of the season and also walked.
“How about guys like Aaron Siple and Jack Zoellner?” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham asked. “Jack has had good at bats against a lot of people. … (Siple) is doing it right. He’s not swinging with his shoulders. He’s using his hands.”
Zoellner (.364) and Siple (.363) are two of just five Lobos now hitting .345 or better. UNM was hitting just .259 on March 18, but the Lobos have raised their team average all the way up to .302 in barely over a month.
UNM hits the road for its final non-conference series of the season this weekend when it travels to face the Wichita State Shockers.
Notes: The Lobos have pounded out 56 hits in their last three home games … UNM turned three double plays in the field … Milligan’s home run came in the third inning, and Vigil and Zoellner also narrowly missed home runs that inning … Bowers had a double off the top of the left-center field wall …just seven of UNM’s 25 hits went for extra bases.