ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico Lobos keep finding ways to win games, and it seems there is a different hero every time. This time, it was Tyler Stevens, who pitched brilliantly for eight innings, and UNM’s defense, which turned in four double plays and a pair of gems in the eighth inning as UNM defeated San José State 3-2 to win the series. The Lobos will now go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., a game that will feature a youth Easter Egg Hunt and $3 youth tickets.
The win was UNM’s sixth in the last seven games, and fourth in a row as the Lobos are now 12-6 overall and 4-1 in the Mountain West. The Spartans dropped to 6-12 and 2-5 in the Mountain West. UNM is now 10-1 all-time vs. San José State in Albuquerque, having won nine straight.
However, it wasn’t easy. It might have looked it early as the Lobos scored two runs in the first inning on a Carl Stajduhar infield single and a Jack Zoellner sacrifice fly. UNM went ahead 3-0 in the third when Chris DeVito doubled to right, which scored Jared Holley while extending his hitting streak to 16 straight games.
That looked to be more than enough for Stevens, who improved to 3-1 on the season. He cruised through the first seven innings unscathed, getting the help of four double plays, including a nifty 1-6-3 double play that he started when he snagged a comebacker. He only ran into trouble in the eighth inning, but even then some heady defense, and some omnipresence on the part of coach Ray Birmingham, kept UNM in the lead.
Ozzy Braff opened the eighth with a home run to left to make it 3-1, and back-to-back singles after a strikeout put runners on first and second. Pitching coach Ken Jacome came to the mound to talk strategy, and Reece Weber trotted out to left field as a defensive replacement. Amazingly on the next pitch, Weber made a leaping grab in the gap to save a sure double, although his throw into the infield was rushed and errant, allowing both runners to move up.
Joe Stefanki then looped a soft liner into right that Erick Migueles dove for and had for a brief moment, but the ball squirted out of his glove. Dillan Smith scored on the play, and Corey Olivet raced home from second, but second baseman Michael Eaton, who was sprinting out to right, picked up the ball and fired a strike home to DeVito, who got the tag down and Olivet was called out, preserving the 3-2 lead.
In the ninth, David Campbell doubled off Drew Bridges, but Bridges snagged a comeback and trapped Campbell off of second, tagging him out himself. UNM then went to Victor Sanchez, and the all-time saves leader had no problem with the final two outs for his fifth career save and his 17th of his career, extending that record.
“Congratulations to Victor on being the all-time saves leader. That’s a New Mexico guy replacing a New Mexico guy (Gera Sanchez, no relation)”, said Ray Birmingham. “Tyler did a great job today. He threw strikes and kept them off balance. We needed that pitching and that defense today. You can’t score double digits every game.”
UNM picked up just six hits on the day, and non off reliever Graham Gomez, who threw 3.1 hitless innings. UNM did enough damage off starter Matt Brown however to win it.
NOTES: Sanchez’ five saves are already tied for the ninth most in a single season in UNM history … New Mexico now has three players hitting over .400 for the season (Danny Collier .414, Chris DeVito .408 and Luis Gonzalez .406) … the Lobos have now won three consecutive series since a four-game losing streak … Jared Holley was hit by a pitch, the 32nd time in his career, moving within six of career leader Joe Salas (38 from 2001-04).
Lobos Defeat SJSU 3-2 for Fourth Win In A Row
