SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (16-8) won for the eighth time in the last ten games, defeating the Sacramento State Hornets (14-9), 1-0, on the road Monday.
The Lobos were led by a season-best performance from senior Colton Thomson (3-1). The starting pitcher threw eight innings and allowed only four hits, all singles. He only allowed one walk and struck out a season-high tying eight batters. Of his eight strikeouts, seven went down swinging. He did not allow any extra base hits and only had two runners reach scoring position.
“Colton struck out eight and got out of a bases loaded jam in the third,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “He showed great poise and command. The wind was blowing straight in from center so the yard played big. Big win, great job by Colton.”
After two scoreless frames, the Lobos put a run on the board in the third to take the lead. Catcher Scottie Graham led off the side with a single to left field. Dalton Bowers followed up with a blooper to right before Luis Gonzalez reached first on a bunt single, loading the bases. With no outs on the board, Jared Holley smacked a sacrifice fly out to centerfield, allowing Graham to cruise home for the go ahead run. The Lobos would not get the remaining runners home, but it would not make a difference in the end.
Meanwhile, Thomson was masterful against the Hornets. He was perfect in the first and second inning, striking out three of the first six batters. He got into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the third, giving up a leadoff walk and back-to-back infield singles to load the bases. With the deck stacked against him, Thomson struck out two batters in a row swinging. With one out needed, he drew a two-pitch fly ball to left center that stranded three base runners.
Thomson did not give up a hit in the fourth and fifth frames, with only one runner reaching base on a catcher’s interference call. The Hornets broke the cold spell with a single to lead off the sixth, but Thompson drew a double play on the next at bat. He would only give up one more hit and was perfect in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Lobos left three runners on base after scoring in the third inning, but could not tack on any insurance runs late. Lobo closer Victor Sanchez entered in the ninth and got the job done, retiring three of the four batters he faced. He only needed 12 pitches to earn his seventh save, eight of which were strikes.
Offensively, Graham finished 2-for-3 with the game’s only run. Chris DeVito followed up a Mountain West Player of the Week candidate performance this weekend with the game’s only extra base hit, a double to right centerfield in the sixth inning.
The Lobos will play one more game in Sacramento before returning home, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m. PST/3 p.m. MST.
NOTES: This was the first 1-0 win for Ray Birmingham as head coach of New Mexico and the program’s first since defeating San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament on May 23, 2007…Between Thomson and Sanchez, the Hornets were held to 5-for-31 hitting…This was the first game ever between New Mexico and Sacramento State…The save for Sanchez was his seventh of the season and his 62nd career appearance, tying Gera Sanchez and Josh Walker in both categories…Sanchez is now four saves away from tying the single season saves record. He already owns the career record.
Thomson Deals in 1-0 Win Over Sacramento State
