Complete box: UNM 8, Wichita State 6
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team jumped out to another big early lead and held on to defeat Wichita State 8-6 Sunday afternoon and complete the series sweep of the Shockers. The Lobos (6-1) scored six in the second and two in the fifth to open up an 8-0 lead before the Shockers (2-5) made it close late.
It was UNM’s first sweep of Wichita State in eight series dating back to 1984.
“This was a very good series for us,” UNM head coach Ray Birmingham said. “They swept us last year in Wichita when we were going through a rash of injuries with a young team, so we knew they were good coming in. Offensively, defensively and our starting pitching all did what they were supposed to do this weekend.”
Jack Zoellner had the biggest day at the plate for the Lobos with two hits and three RBIs. One of those hits was a home run leading off the second. It was the second of the year for UNM’s junior first baseman, and it kickstarted the Lobos’ rally.
Two batters after Zoellner’s big fly, Chris DeVito stroked a single to center, and Reece Weber followed with a single to right. With two down Jared Holley had an excellent at bat before delivering an RBI single to left. Consecutive walks by Luis Gonzalez, Michael Eaton and Carl Stajduhar forced in two more runs for the Lobos.
Then Zoellner made his presence felt again by smacking the first pitch in his second at bat of the inning to right for a two-run single.
Another two-out rally in the fifth increased UNM’s lead. Jared Mang reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. DeVito then notched his ninth RBI of the series with a single to left. Weber followed with another single of his own, and Scottie Graham knocked in DeVito with a base hit to center.
Wichita State finally got on the board with three runs in the sixth off Lobo starter James Harrington (2-0). Harrington was excellent through four, allowing just two hits with three strikeouts, but the Shockers figured him out a bit in the sixth with a pair of ground-rule doubles, a single, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Wichita State could have had more, though, as the third out of the inning was made at home plate with the bases loaded as a runner tried to score on a wild pitch. Graham quickly gathered the ball and tossed it to reliever Christian Tripp covering in plenty of time to get the runner.
The Shockers also rallied in the seventh as UNM walked three batters and allowed a couple singles. However, with the bases loaded and just one out, Drew Bridges and Alex Estrella got back-to-back strikeouts to escape the jam.
Victor Sanchez came in and allowed a run in the ninth, but with the tying run at the plate he got a swinging strikeout to earn his 14th career save and move into sole possession of second place on UNM’s all-time list.
“Victor did a great job with his stuff,” Birmingham said. “He threw strikes and got the job done.”
The Lobos nearly doubled up the Shockers this weekend, outscoring them 33-17 and drawing 22 walks.
“That is a great baseball team,” Birmingham said about the Shockers. “When they figure it out they’re going to be very good. They’ve got big arms and can swing the bat. I’m proud of the kids. They’re all buying in, and they’re all sticking together. It only gets harder next week, though.”
New Mexico is off until next weekend when it hosts nationally ranked Dallas Baptist for three games at Santa Ana Star Field. The first game of the series is Friday night at 6. ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM will carry the game. Fans can also watch a stream on the Mountain West Network at GoLobos.com, or watch the game on television locally on Comcast channel 26.
Notes: This was UNM’s 86th straight win when leading after eight innings … Sanchez is one save behind Gera Sanchez’s team record of 15 for his career … Zoellner also drew his team-leading 11th walk of the season … Weber (3-for-4) and DeVito (2-for-4) were the only other Lobos with multiple hits.