FRESNO, Calif. — The University of New Mexico baseball team took an early 3-0 lead on a Jared Mang three-run double, but Fresno State scored nine unanswered runs as the Lobos fell 9-3 on Friday night at Pete Beiden Field.
The Bulldogs hit a pair of three-run homers in Friday’s contest, including one in the bottom of the second to take a 4-3 lead to erase UNM’s (28-21-1 overall, 18-5-1 Mountain West) early 3-0 advantage.
“They just outpitched us tonight,” UNM coach Ray Birmingham said. “We will have to get back after it Saturday.”
The Lobos took an early lead on Fresno State (27-22, 14-11) as singles by Hayden Schilling and Justin Watari followed by a Luis Gonzalez loaded the bases for Mang in the top of the second inning. The sophomore hit a bases-clearing double to left to give the Lobos an early 3-0 advantage.
Unfortunately for UNM, the lead didn’t last long as the Bulldogs put together three hits to score a run before an Austin Guibor three-run shot gave Fresno State a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the second.
The Bulldogs scored one more in the third, three in the fourth (on a three-run homer by Aaron Arruda) and another in the sixth to come away with the 9-3 victory.
Tyler Stevens got the loss for UNM, going five innings and giving up eight runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Austin Isenhart was effective in relief, giving up an unearned run on two hits with a strikeout and a walk.
Mang led UNM at the plate, going 2-for-5 with the double and three RBI while Schilling finished 2-for-3 with a run.
Despite the loss, UNM’s magic number to clinch the Mountain West fell to three with Air Force defeating second-place San Diego State on Friday.
The two teams play again 7:05 p.m. (MT) Saturday with Johnathon Tripp (5-1, 4.90 ERA) going for the Lobos while Edgar Gonzalez (4-3, 4.94 ERA) will go for the Bulldogs.