SAN JOSE, Calif. — A seeing-eye single off the glove of shortstop Nick Atkins by San José State’s Kellen Strahm scored Anders Davidson from second with the winning run as the Spartans took a third straight on-run win over New Mexico, 3-2, sweeping the series and seriously damaging UNM’s postseason tournament hopes.
The hit was part of a two-run ninth inning for San José State, which overcame a 2-1 lead for UNM as the Lobos had scored in the top of the frame. The Spartans improved to 19-22 overall and 9-11 in the Mountain West, just a half-game out of the last conference tournament spot. The Lobos dropped to 15-27-1 overall and 8-16 in the conference, and the Lobos now sit 3.5 games out of the last qualifying spot.
UNM jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on two hits and a walk. Justin Watari walked to open the game he moved to second on a single by Hayden Schilling. Two batters later, Derek Marshall singled in Watari for a 1-0 lead.
Nathaniel Garley on the hill for UNM was fantastic, allowing just a run in 6.1 innings of work. Garley allowed just a single run, that coming on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded when UNM couldn’t complete a double play on a slow-hit grounder.
UNM took the lead on an unearned run in the ninth. Daniel Herrera walked, and his pinch runner Garrett Gouldsmith was sacrificed to second by Brayden Merritt. After a strikeout, Gouldsmith went to third on a balk, but Watari grounded to third for what should have been the third out. But the throw was high, allowing Gouldsmith to score.
Robert Gasser, who came into the game in the seventh to help UNM escape a pickle, allowed an opening single in the ninth on a ball that went about 25 feet. That brought in Christian Tripp to close it out. After a sacrifice, a single by Connor Kinoshi brought in the tying run, and Kinoshi went to econd on the throw home.
That proved large, as after a strikeout and an intentional walk, Strahm singled off of the glove of Atkins, allowing the pinch runner Davidson to score the game winner.
The Lobos are back in action to conclude a six-game road swing at New Mexico State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before coming home to host San Diego State in a three-game series at Santa Ana Star Field. The game on Tuesday will be broadcast on AggieVision, and also it will be available on ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team.
NOTES: Robert Gasser made his third pitching appearance of the week … UNM was again without three starters in Gouldsmith, Danny Collier and Jared Mang … UNM had lost seven straight conference road games.