ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Carl Stajduhar three-run, go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, a 5-for-5 performance by Jared Mang and a shutdown final three innings by the Lobo bullpen led the University of New Mexico baseball team to 11-9 victory over UNLV on Sunday to sweep the Rebels at Santa Ana Star Field.
The victory keeps UNM (23-16-1) atop the Mountain West with a 14-2-1 record, staying ahead of San Diego State’s 13-5 second-place mark heading into next weekend’s key series against the Aztecs in San Diego.
“It was good to get the sweep today as our guys battled through a bit of adversity,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “We have some things to clean up still with Texas Tech coming to town Tuesday and then heading to San Diego, but we can do it and getting a sweep helps get us some momentum. We can beat anyone. We just have to focus for nine innings.”
The Rebels (14-28, 7-14) tried to spoil the sweep as they took a 9-7 lead on the Lobos with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a ball lost in the sun for a single, a sac bunt and a single that turned into two runs due to an error in the outfield.
UNM answered in its half of the sixth inning as Beau Capanna and Mang led off the inning with singles. However, a strikeout and a groundout made it appear the Rebels were going to get out of the inning unscathed before Stajduhar hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off the bottom of the scoreboard in left field to give the Lobos a 10-9 edge.
It was Stajduhar’s third game in a row with a home run and fourth this week as he finished 2-for-2 Sunday with a home run, triple, five RBI and two runs while being walked twice and plunked once.
“As a team it’s starting to come all together for us – and Jared Mang is on fire,” Stajduhar said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy hit the ball so hard in every at bat. He’s really swinging it. … I’m just trying to help the team. I’ve been struggling a bit so I was really just trying to do what was best for the team.”
The Lobos added an insurance run in the eighth inning and it appeared UNM was going to need it as UNLV got runners on second and third with one out in the ninth inning.
Lobo closer Christian Tripp got out of the jam, however, with a strikeout and a groundout thanks to a nice diving tag by first baseman Jack Zoellner on a slow chopper down the line to end it.
James Harrington got the win in relief, going 2.1 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits with a strikeout and walk while Tripp picked up his fifth save of the season with a scoreless ninth.
Mang continued his hot hitting as he went 5-for-5 with four runs and a double as he finished the three-game series 10-for-13 with a home run, double, 10 runs and three RBI.
“I’m just trying to be on time and be aggressive,” Mang said. “I’m trying not to do too much and keep it simple. … I feel pretty good right now and I’m seeing it well.”
Capanna went 3-for-5 with three runs and Zoellner finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, a run and a stolen base.
The Lobos host a pair of key non-conference games starting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday when UNM welcomes No. 4 Texas Tech to Santa Ana Star Field (teams also play 1 p.m. Wednesday). Listen to the games with play-by-play from Robert Portnoy on ESPN Albuquerque 101.7 The TEAM.
NOTES
- Carl Stajduhar’s home run gives him 37 in his career – good for seventh place on the Lobo all-time list.
- Stajduhar is the second Lobo this season to hit home runs in three consecutive games. Jack Zoellner did it against Air Force, New Mexico State and San Jose State from March 5-10.
- It’s the second time in nine days Mang has had five hits in a game after going 5-fof-6 against Missouri State on April 13.
- This is the first time since the first year of the Mountain West Conference in 2000 that the Lobos have swept six games from UNLV during conference play.