FULLERTON, Calif. — The University of New Mexico pitching staff allowed only six base runners and retired seventh-ranked Cal State Fullerton in order five times Friday night behind a stellar effort on the mound from Tyler Stevens.
Unfortunately for the Lobos, the Titans manufactured runs in two of the three innings they had a runner reach as UNM fell to Cal State Fullerton 2-1 at Goodwin Field.
“That was a very competitive college baseball game,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “Stevens pitched as good as anybody in the country and Luis Gonzalez was a superstar out there. Tough loss, but I saw a team get after it. The Lobo fight was there. Fullerton’s arms are for real, though.”
Stevens was dominant early as the Lobo (11-5 overall) right-hander retired the first 12 Titans (12-5) until a runner reached to lead off the fifth inning on catcher’s interference. Fullerton took advantage as after a groundout advanced the runner to second, Sahid Valenzuela hit an RBI double to take a 1-0 Titan lead.
The Lobos didn’t trail long, however, as Gonzalez – who doubled earlier in the game – led off the top of the sixth with a triple off the left field wall and Danny Collier followed with a double to left to score Gonzalez and tie the game 1-1. It appeared UNM may get more, but Collier was tossed out from right field on a fly out by Stajduhar for a double play.
The Titans used small ball to take the lead for good in the seventh inning as a lead-off double by Taylor Bryant, a sac bunt by Hank LoForte and a Chris Hudgins sac fly to right field gave Cal State Fullerton a 2-1 advantage.
Stevens picked up the tough loss, going seven innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with eight strikeouts and a walk. Stevens, who was the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week last week, in his last two starts has gone 16 innings and given up two earned runs on seven hits with 16 strikeouts and two walks.
Gonzalez paced UNM at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple, double and a run. Collier finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double and a pair of walks.
Connor Seabold got the win for the Titans, going seven innings and giving up a run on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.
The two teams meet again 7 p.m. Saturday with Johnathon Tripp going for the Lobos while Gavin Velasquez will get the start for the Titans. Listen to the game on ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM streamed at www.1017theteam.com and on the TuneIn Radio app.
NOTES
- Carl Stajduhar made his 125th consecutive start, moving him to fifth place on the Lobo all-time list. Mitch Garver holds the all-time mark in UNM history with 181.
- Danny Collier extended his on-base streak to a team-high 17 consecutive games as he reached three times Friday.