SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (23-10) dropped a midweek nonconference road game Tuesday against the Santa Clara Broncos (15-16), 13-7.
Dalton Bowers was productive out of the nine hole for the Lobos, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI. Reece Weber went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk, while Carl Stajduhar finished 2-for-5 with a RBI.
The Santa Clara offense pounced early, taking a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Lobos responded immediately, tying the game in the top of the second. Jack Zoellner and Erick Migueles started the frame by reaching base on a single and walk, respectively, and were bunted over by Weber. Austin Bell drove in Zoellner on a grounder to second, which was followed up by a RBI double to left field. The frame was capped by a RBI triple down the right field like from Gonzalez, tying the game.
The tie was short lived, as Santa Clara posted four runs in the bottom of the second. From there, the Lobo bats hit a rare cold spell, going scoreless from the third inning through the seventh. In the meantime, Santa Clara scored an additional six runs and built a double digit lead on the Lobos.
Down 13-3, the Lobos did not go out without a fight. New Mexico scored four runs in the eighth, putting the Broncos back on alert. Migueles started the side with a walk and reached scoring position on a wild pitch. Weber recorded a RBI with a single up the middle. Andre Vigil reached base on balls, which set up Weber to score on a Bowers double down the left field line.
With no outs and the top of the order due up, Luiz Gonzalez walked to load the bases. Jared Mang took advantage, plating Vigil on a sacrifice fly. Stajduhar earned the team’s last hit of the side with a RBI single to left, cutting the Bronco lead to six runs.
Taylor Duree entered the game in the eighth inning and held the home team scoreless. However, the Lobos were retired in order in the ninth, ending the comeback bid. Luis Gonzalez (2-1) recorded the decision and earned his first loss of the season.
The Lobos will look to bounce back Wednesday when they face San Francisco on the road at 3 p.m. PST/4 p.m. MST.
NOTES: This was the first matchup between the Lobos and Santa Clara…Taylor Duree made his 73rd career appearance pitching for New Mexico, two short of the school record…The Lobos reached base to leadoff five of the nine innings…This is the first nonconference loss for the Lobos against a team not currently nationally ranked since March 8…The Lobos are still winners of 8 of their last 10 games.
Lobos Fall on the Road at Santa Clara
