ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (33-19, 18-8 MW) dropped the second game of the weekend series Saturday night, falling to the Nevada Wolf Pack (29-21, 17-9 MW), 17-11.
Offensively, Jared Holley stood out among the Lobos, finishing 2-for-4 with a game-high three RBI and two runs scored. Carl Stajduhar and Andrew Pratt each went 2-for-5 and combined to earn three RBI and three runs scored.
Both offenses had big nights, but Nevada’s got started first. The Wolf Pack began the game by scoring two runs in both the first and second innings. They took a 5-0 lead on a pair of base hits in the top of the third.
The game was flipped in the bottom of the third, when the Lobos scored seven runs on five hits. The rally began when Austin Bell, Dalton Bowers and Luis Gonzalez loaded the bases on a single and two walks. With the Lobos needing a big hit, Holley cleared the bases with a double down the left field line that just stayed fair. Holley would score on the next at bat when Chris DeVito sent him home on a double to right centerfield.
Stajduhar pushed DeVito over to third base on an infield single that nearly slipped through for a RBI. Jack Zoellner tied the game by moving the runners on a ground out. With Stajduhar on, Pratt put the Lobos ahead with a huge blast over left field, giving the hole team a 7-5 lead.
Nevada struck back two innings later with two runs in the fifth, but the Lobos held serve in the bottom side. Stajduhar led off the frame with another home run over left field, his team-best 16th of the season. Zoellner followed up with a five-pitch walk. After a single from Pratt moved him over, Bell singled to left field to drive in a run.
After Nevada scored once in the sixth, the Lobos crossed double digits with a run in both the sixth and seventh innings. Holley and Zoellner led off the sixth with singles, but moved into scoring position on a throw to third. With Pratt up to bat, a wild pitch advanced Holley home. Small ball and patience drove in a run in the seventh, when Micheal Eaton, Dalton Bowers and Jared Holley loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Chris DeVito stepped up to bat and drew a five-pitch walk to give his team an 11-8 lead.
The game got away from the Lobos in the eighth inning, when Nevada scored six runs, three of which were unearned. After a trio of fly balls in the bottom of the eighth, Nevada scored their final three runs in the ninth to build their six-run advantage. The Lobos went three-and-out in both the eighth and ninth innings to finish the game.
The weekend series is now tied at 1-1, with the rubber match set for Sunday at 1 p.m. The Lobos will also honor eight seniors in their final regular season home game at Santa Ana Star Field. The game will broadcast live on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM.
NOTES: The all-time series between New Mexico and Nevada is tied up at 14-14…Andrew Pratt’s home run was the first of his collegiate career…Both teams hit above .400 with runners in scoring position Saturday.
Lobos and Wolf Pack Even on the Weekend After Saturday Slugfest
