ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (19-9, 9-3 MW) dropped its final game of the weekend against the UNLV Rebels (10-17, 4-8 MW) Sunday, 6-5. The Lobos took the series, two games to one.
The Lobos were led offensively by sophomore Scottie Graham, who went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Leadoff hitter Luis Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Colton Thomson started and despite not getting the win, pitched an efficient six innings. He held the Rebels to one run, seven hits and three walks. He struck out a season-best nine batters.
The Rebels struck first on Sunday posting a run in the second inning on three singles against Thomson. The senior ended the side on a strikeout, and shut down the road team over the next four innings.
Offensively, the Lobos battled through a strong outing from UNLV’s Kenny Oakley. However, New Mexico took advantage of an opportunity in the fourth, when Jack Zoellner reached second base on a bobbled infield popup. On the very next pitch, Scottie Graham sent a double down the left field line to score Zoellner and tie the game.
In the fifth inning, Luis Gonzalez gave the Lobos instant offense with a one-out solo home run down the right field line. The go ahead blast was his second of the season. With two outs on the board, Chris DeVito was a foot short of another home run but secured a triple off the right centerfield fence. Unfortunately, Carl Stajduhar’s gapper was robbed on a great catch by UNLV’s left fielder Payton Squier.
The Rebels tied the game at two runs apiece on a pair of extra base hits in the seventh inning. As they have much of the weekend, the Lobos fought back in the bottom of the frame. Luis Gonzalez led off with a single through the right side, and was bunted over by Jared Holley. The Rebels loaded the bases by walking DeVito and Stajduhar, the first of which intentionally. With just one out on the board, Jack Zoellner earned a RBI and put his team ahead with a groundout to the shortstop, plating Gonzalez. With two runners in scoring position, Graham found the gap in left field for his second double. The clutch two-out hit put the Lobos ahead, 5-2.
In the eighth inning, the Rebels retook their lead with their highlight frame of the weekend, scoring four runs. The Lobos fought hard to tie the game and put the tying runner on base in both the eighth and ninth innings. In the ninth, the Lobos nearly pulled off a two out rally, starting with a Zoellner single. Graham knocked a hit up the middle, moving the tying run into scoring position, but the Lobos could not get him home.
The Lobos will play a neutral site game in Roswell, New Mexico against New Mexico State at 6 p.m. It will be aired live on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
NOTES: After the game, Ray Birmingham went on to be inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame…The Lobos batted .438 with two outs on the board…The Lobos held a 64.5 percent strike percentage…The Lobos end the series winning 12 of the last 15 games against UNLV in Albuquerque.
Lobos Drop Game Against UNLV; Win Series, 2-1
