SAN JOSE, Calif. — Dalton Bowers had a key two-out double in the seventh to tie the game, and then his three-run bomb the following inning gave UNM the cushion it needed as his four RBI day powered UNM to a series clinching 10-3 win over San José State.
The win improved UNM to 26-11 overall and 14-4 in the Mountain West while San Joe State dropped to 11-24 overall and 4-14 in the MW. UNM maintained its two-game lead over Fresno State for the Mountain West lead.
While UNM got a solid performance on the mound from Sunday starter Colton Thomson (5-1), who went eight innings and allowed two earned runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts, but for a while, it looked like it wouldn’t be enough as UNM trailed 3-2 entering the seventh inning. Some strong defense by UNM kept it 3-2, as on the run scoring single to give the Spartans the lead, Jared Mang cut down a second runner at the plate from left field.
Down 3-2 and after stranding a runner on third with one out in the sixth, UNM had the identical situation in the seventh, runner on third and one out. This time the Lobos plated that run.
After a groundout on a sharply hit ball to make it two down, Bowers laced a ball just inside the bag at third for a run scoring double to make it 3-3. Bowers, who was left there, wasn’t done for the day.
One inning later, SJSU opened the door with a two-out error to allow a run to score making it 4-3. The Lobos not only walked through the door. The kicked it down and threw it into the bay near the stadium. Bowers rocked a 2-1 pitch deep over the wall in left for a three-run shot, giving UNM a 7-3 cushion. A fifth run in the frame was tacked on when Luis Gonzalez scored from first base on an infield bunt single by Andre Vigil and the subsequent throwing error.
“Dalton was determined to make it happen. He made some physical adjustments this week and hopefully is back to being the offensive threat he can be,” said head coach Ray Birmingham, adding, “He’s a great kid, and maybe the best defensive shortstop I have had at UNM.”
That would be all UNM needed. Thomson worked one more inning and then the Lobos posted two more runs in the ninth, on a leadoff home run by Carl Stajduhar, his fourth hit of the day to lead off an inning, and a bases loaded walk by Luis Gonzalez. Victor Sanchez came in and retired the side in order in the ninth.
“That was a great job today by Thomson,” said Birmingham. “His pitching kept us in it. The kids were pretty tired from a long hard road trip. San José State is going to change things in this conference. They are much improved.”
New Mexico now returns home to take on Texas Tech in a pair of midweek games that could be crucial to UNM’s potential at-large hopes. The Lobos will play on Tuesday night at 6 and Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field. UNM returns to conference play with three games against San Diego State, starting on Friday night at 6 p.m.
NOTES: The home run by Bowers was his third of the season … UNM cut down a batter trying to advance to second on the throw home for an unconventional 8-2-6-4 putout, giving the Lobos two outfield assists … UNM had 15 hits, but none from leading hitter Chris DeVito, who went 0-for-5 … Jared Holley hit for three legs of the cycle with a single, double, and his first home run of the season.