ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team (31-16) earned its third Rio Grande Rivalry win of the season Tuesday with a 3-2 road victory over the New Mexico State Aggies (25-19).
Carl Stajduhar led the Lobos by going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate. He recorded two doubles and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth. All three of the Lobos’ runs were driven in by Jared Mang, who batted 2-for-4.
Luis Gonzalez (3-1) recorded the win on a strong outing. He held the Aggies to two runs and six hits and did not allow the home team to score after the opening frame. The bullpen was lights out, with four pitchers combining to no-hit the Aggies over the final 3.1 innings.
“Luis Gonzalez pitched his tail off and Jared Mang had his first BIG night as a Lobo with three RBI,” proclaimed head coach Ray Birmingham. “That’s a sophomore and a freshman. Andy Pratt (freshman from Albuquerque) was awesome behind the plate.”
The Lobos fell behind early after the Aggies created instant offense on two swings in the bottom of the first inning. The Aggies blasted two solo home runs within their first three at bats, putting the Lobos in an immediate hole.
After coming up short in the first three innings, the Lobos put themselves on the board in the fourth. Chris DeVito and Stajduhar started the frame with back-to-back singles and were batted over on a sacrifice bunt from Andre Vigil. With both in scoring position, Mang hit a grounder to second base, allowing DeVito to cross the plate.
Two innings later, DeVito and Stajduhar once again led off a rally, this time taking the lead. DeVito drew a walk and was pushed to third base on a double to right centerfield. Once again, Mang came through, plating both runners on a single through the right side. The Lobos could have grown their lead after two more singles from Andrew Pratt and Austin Bell, but the bases were left loaded.
The Lobos did not score again after the sixth, but strong pitching prevented the need for more runs. The Aggies were blanked for eight straight innings after the first and held to four hits during that span. However, it would not be without drama. The Aggies earned a ninth-inning walk and batted the tying run all the way to third base. With two outs on the board, Alex Estrella recorded his fifth save with a clutch strikeout.
The Lobos return to Mountain West Conference play on Friday when they start a three-game series at UNLV at 7 p.m. MST.
NOTES: The team recorded its 16th save, tying the program record set in 2014…Estrella’s fifth save marks the first time in program history in which two Lobos recorded five or more saves in a season (Sanchez has eight)…The Lobos finish the Rio Grande Rivalry with a 3-1 record this year…This was the 158th win over NMSU in program history…The Lobos reached base leading off in five of nine innings Tuesday…NMSU was held to a .091 batting average with runners on.