Complete Box: UNM 6, Hawai’i 4
HONOLULU – Michael Eaton didn’t take long to make his presence felt for the University of New Mexico. In his first game for the Lobos, and in the team’s season opener, the senior transfer and Albuquerque native homered and scored three runs in a 6-4 win for the Lobos over the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors (1-2).
“This was a great experience,” Eaton said about his first game. “I’ve been looking forward to this since the fall. It’s fun playing with guys I’ve been playing against my whole life. I love being part of this team.”
The win was UNM’s first at Hawai’i since May 16, 1992 and the Lobos’ first on Opening Day since a 16-7 win over Eastern Michigan on Feb. 22, 2008.
“We saw a lot of good things tonight,” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said. “We still have a long ways to go, too. The University of New Mexico hasn’t had a lot of luck here over the years, so it was nice to get this first one out of the way, but we still have three more to go.”
UNM got on the board with a run in each of the first three innings. After Eaton drew a one-out walk in the first, Carl Stajduhar drove him in with a double. In the second Jack Zoellner doubled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. Then Eaton homered to left, which is no easy feat at Les Murakami Stadium, leading off the third.
“I was seeing the ball well,” Eaton said. “It helps being a fifth-year senior and knowing how to relax yourself and calm myself down. I was able to have good at bats.”
Eaton worked the count very well, seeing at least five pitches in all five of his at bats. He finished 2-for-3 with two walks.
“”I knew he was going to be special,” Birmingham said. “He’s a great New Mexico kid doing great things. He’s a big part of our program and a solid professional player. We need all our guys to mature like he has.”
Junior Carson Schneider started on the mound and faced just one over the minimum through the first three frames. The Rainbow Warriors finally got to him in the fifth, though, on a two-out, two-run double. He escaped further damage with a strikeout. In his five full innings he allowed four hits and walked three with a pair of strikeouts.
Matt Villalobos came on in relief to start the sixth and escaped a jam. There were runners on the corners and no outs when he induced a 1-6-3 double play and got a pop up to Zoellner to preserve the lead. Fernando Fernandez made his collegiate debut and allowed two runs in two innings.
After Hawai’i brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, Victor Sanchez came in and, after a walk, got a swinging strikeout to earn his 13th career save, moving him into a tie for second place on UNM’s all-time list.
Danny Collier drove in two with a pinch-hit single in the seventh, and Scottie Graham provided UNM its final run with a single in the ninth that scored Andre Vigil.
Stajduhar finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and Zoeller finished 2-for-3 with two walks to go with his double and run scored. UNM drew nine free passes on the night.
The teams meet again at 9:35 p.m. MT on Saturday. Sophomore right-hander Tyler Stevens will take the mound for the Lobos.
“We didn’t play as well as we were capable of tonight,” Eaton said. “We have to continue to play hard, and I think tomorrow if we come out and do the things we’re capable of then we’ll be successful. As long as we keep pitching well, playing good defense and having good at bats then we’ll be fine.”
Notes: It had been 8,672 days since UNM defeated Hawai’i on the road … the Lobos are now 7-34 at Hawai’i … freshman Jared Mang started in left and went 1-for-4 with a double … Sanchez is tied with Ed Bartholomew (1983-85) on the saves list, two behind Gera Sanchez (2010-12) … this was UNM’s 81st straight win when leading after eight innings.