ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico State Aggies did just about all their damage with two outs, scoring eight of their nine runs with two down, including all six in a six-run second inning that put the game away early as NMSU defeated New Mexico 9-1 in the first of three Tuesday games between the two teams.
New Mexico’s offense struggled mightily, and the opening inning for UNM on offense was the omen of things to come. Danny Collier opened the game by beating out an infield single, sliding into first, but on the first pitch to Hayden Schilling, Collier tried to advance on a ball in the dirt and was thrown out, and it turned into that kind of night.
Three rockets, off the bats of Schilling, Garrett Gouldsmith and Richard Ware all went for double plays that two feet either way all scored runs. Two of those nearly resulted in triple plays. As it were though, UNM’s offense could only muster seven singles against Justin Dehn, Matthew Perea and Alvaro Castillo.
UNM never got on the board until two down in the ninth. The inning started with a pair of singles, but Ware lined into an unassisted double play, with the second baseman Gonzalez not throwing the ball to first on what would have been a triple play. A wild pitch, a walk and a Garrett Gouldsmith single, all with two outs, brought in the lone run for UNM.
The Aggies got on the board against James Harrington in the first after Harrington quickly got two outs. A single to Trey Stine, a wild pitch and a single by Logan Ehnes made it 1-0. In the second, Harrington had two outs and a runner on first when the wheels fell off. Marcus Still hit a run scoring triple to make it 2-0, and after a walk Joey Ortiz singled in a run to make it 3-0.
A Trey Stine single made it 4-0 and then an infield double off the glove of Hayden Schilling made it 5-0. Tristan Carranza made it 7-0 with a two-run single.
Overall Harrington allowed eight earned runs in two-plus innings, and it was Nathaniel Garley who entered and threw three scoreless innings of relief. Phillip Skies and Brian Coffey also pitched, with Sikes going 1.1 innings and Coffey 2.2 of one-hit relief. UNM’s relievers threw seven innings of one run ball, allowing six hits.
The Lobos now head to Reno, Nevada for a three-game series, with a couple of time changes. Saturday’s game is now at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, and Sunday’s game moved up to noon Mountain Time.
NOTES: Phillip Sikes made his third career relief appearance, allowing a run in 1.1 innings … Jared Mang was hit by a pitch for the ninth time in 19 games … Gouldsmith had the only two-hit game for UNM.
Lobos Dropped by Aggies 9-1
