SAN JOSE, Calif. — The University of New Mexico baseball team surrendered a two-run, game-tying home run in the ninth inning and ended up in a 5-5 tie with San Jose State on Sunday at Municipal Stadium due to a drop dead time rule determined prior to the game for travel arrangements.
The Lobos (18-12-1 overall, 11-2-1 Mountain West) used a four-run fourth inning to rally from a 2-0 deficit and took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth after back-to-back doubles by Andre Gregory and Luis Gonzalez in the top half of the inning.
But SJSU (12-17-1, 6-7-1) got a lead-off single to start the ninth from Aaron Pleschner before Shane Timmons hit a two-run homer to tie the game, 5-5.
Three batters later the game was called per the drop dead rule.
“It’s been a long road trip with a fatigued team, but it hurts bad not to get this one,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “It doesn’t get any easier with the hardest schedule in the country as we have Texas Tech on the road Tuesday then host a very good Missouri State team.”
This is UNM’s 15th tie in program history and first since Feb. 23, 2014, when the Lobos and Northern Illinois finished a game at 3-3 in Albuquerque.
The Lobos allowed single runs in the first and second innings to fall behind 2-0 before RBI singles by Jack Zoellner, Hayden Schilling and Daniel Herrera in the fourth inning – along with a run scoring on a San Jose State error – gave UNM a 4-2 advantage.
SJSU answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the score remained 4-3 until the ninth inning when Gregory’s hustle double led to an RBI double from Gonzalez to give UNM an insurance run and 5-3 lead – a run it needed to at least salvage a tie after Simmons’ two-run homer in the ninth for SJSU.
Johnathon Tripp pitched well for the Lobos, going six innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Gonzalez finished 2-for-4 at the plate for UNM with a double and RBI while Schilling went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
The Lobos hit the road to take on No. 2 Texas Tech 1 p.m. (MT) Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas.
Lobos, Spartans end series with 5-5 tie
