FRESNO, Calif. — Two key errors early in the game led to four unearned runs, and those two mistakes were all Fresno State needed to take down New Mexico and take game two of the three-game weekend series 5-1.
Robert Gasser earned the start for the Lobos, and he was brilliant in the first, mowing down the Bulldogs in the first. In the second, a two-out error extended the inning, and the next batter Robert Jensen deposited a ball over the fence in left for a 2-0 lead.
In the third, a walk and a single came around on a pair of errors, ending the day for Gasser. Nathaniel Garley entered and proceeded to completely shut down Fresno State, holding the Bulldogs to no runs over 3.1 innings.
Garley’s relief work kept UNM in striking distance, and the Lobos got one back off starter Edgar Gonzalez in the seventh. UNM loaded the bases with one out on a Derek Marshall single, a Robby Campillo double and a walk to Justin Watari. The brought up Brayden Merritt, who grounded into a force play, but he beat the relay to allow Marshall to score, making it 4-1. However, that’s a much as UNM got.
Fresno State answered in the bottom half with a run off Brian Coffey. Coffey recorded two outs before allowing a walk. He came out in favor of Chad Smith, who allowed a single and then two straight walks to let a run in, the only earned run of the game scored by Fresno State.
Unlike yesterday, UNM couldn’t fashion another comeback, picking up just a solitary walk in the final two innings. Edgar Gonzalez picked up the win allowing just one run in seven innings, while Gasser was tagged with the loss.
The rubber game of the three-game series will be Sunday at 4:05 p.m. Mountain Time. The game was moved back an hour to allow for some morning weather to pass.
NOTES: The Lobos recorded just four hits, two in the seventh when they scored … Garley lowered his ERA to 3.78 … Nick Krauth pitched a scoreless ninth inning … the Lobos committed three errors.
Lobos Drop 5-1 Decision to Fresno State
