LAS CRUCES, N.M. — No team in Division I has started more freshmen this season than The University of New Mexico, as Ray Birmingham has penciled in 185 freshmen into the lineup. On Tuesday, he added nine more to that list.
The Lobos had freshmen in all nine positions on the field, with only one non-junior, the DH, in the lineup, but the UNM allowed three big innings to the Aggies as New Mexico State took the season series with a 13-2 win in a game shortened to seven innings due to a run-rule.
The loss dropped UNM to 15-28-1 on the season, and the Lobos are now just 3-16 in their last 19 games. Conversely, New Mexico State is 29-16 overall and has won 13 of 16.
The Lobos entered the day having totaled 119 starts by true freshmen and 76 by redshirt freshmen, giving UNM 185. That total is 11 more than the Utah Utes, which has totaled 174 freshmen starts. That total based on current research is the top mark in Division I for the most freshmen starts by a team.
The Lobos went with freshman Robert Gasser on the hill, his second start, and fourth appearance in the last seven days, and he continued his run of great pitching. Gasser threw two innings, allowing an unearned run and just one hit, walking one and striking out two. However, it was a strikeout that came around to score, as the opening batter of the game, Logan Botrell, struck out, but the ball went off catcher Daniel Zakosek for a passed ball. After moving to second on a walk, he scored on a base hit Logan Ehnes for a 1-0 lead.
UNM had a chance to tie the game in the second, but Zakosek was thrown on trying to cross to third on an infield ground ball, which proved costly as Aggie starter threw a wild pitch and allowed a single afterwards.
UNM had a chance again in the third with two on and one out, but with the runners moving, Connor Mang lined out to center, which turned into an inning ending double play.
James Harrington relieved Gasser in the third, and he allowed just one hit, but it was a biggie. After a walk and a hit batter (UNM hit four in the game), Ehnes smacked a three-run homer to make it 4-0.
UNM got on the board and got one run back, but again had a shot for more. With runners on second and third and one out, a hard ground ball that looked ticketed for a single to center was snagged by Aggie starting pitcher Justin Dehn, who caught Derek Marshall off third for the second out of the inning. UNM did get on the board when Phillips Sikes scored from third when Dehn threw a pickoff attempt on Richard Ware, who was at first, down the right field line.
Brian Coffey relieved but struggled, unable to get out of the fourth, allowing four runs and giving NMSU an 8-1 lead. Chad Smith, who got the last out of the fourth, didn’t retired either of the first two batters in the fifth, and Drew Gillespie entered, and the Aggie would eventually score five times in the inning for a 13-1 lead.
UNM completed the scoring in the seventh when Brayden Merritt hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Justin Watari, who had walked earlier in the frame.
Dehn improved to 4-3 on the season with the win while Gasser, who allowed just the opening run, fell to 2-2. The Lobos now return home in hopes of ending a four-game losing streak as they head back into conference play with a series against San Diego State starting on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field. The series will continue with games on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. All those games will be streamed on the Mountain West Network and carried live with the Voice of the Lobos Robert Portnoy on ESPN Radio 101.7 The Team.
NOTES: The only freshman position player to not start was Chris Dunn, who stayed back in Albuquerque to take an exam … each team committed an error.
Lobos Start Nine Freshmen Against NMSU, Lose 13-2
