Lobos rally for three runs in top of ninth to upend Arizona, 5-4
TUCSON, Ariz. – Trailing 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth inning, the University of New Mexico baseball team rallied for three runs in their final at-bats to take a 5-4 lead and then held the University of Arizona scoreless in the bottom half to secure the come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night at Hi Corbett Field.
The win for the Lobos (6-3) is their first against the Wildcats (6-3) since 2006 and snaps a 14-game losing streak in the process. The last win for the Lobos against Arizona was a 13-3 decision in the middle of April in Albuquerque.
On Wednesday night, the Lobos’ win was the quintessential definition of what makes baseball so great and why the game takes all 27 outs before deciding a winner.
In the top of the ninth, freshman Tyler Kelly doubled down the left field line to lead off the frame. A groundout by Reese O’Farrell moved Kelly to third with one out. Classmate Ediberto Reyes then came on as a pinch hitter and drove Kelly home on a single up the middle to make it a 4-3 game. Reyes was then pinch-ran for by Micah Pietilla-Wiggs. The next at-bat saw Brayden Merritt drop down a perfect drag bunt past the mound and to the Wildcats’ second baseman for a single.
Following a strikeout for the second out, Hayden Schilling, with an 0-2 count, hit a ball off the end of his bat and as good fortune would have it, the ball hugged the grass trimming down the third base line and never wavered foul as Schilling singled to load the bases.
That then brought senior outfielder Jared Mang to the plate. Mang worked the count full before skying a ball into foul territory down the left field line. On that play, the Wildcats’ left fielder Donta Williams reached over the wall in foul territory and gloved the ball. It was not the final out of the game, however, as the ball never stayed secure in his glove and after running into the wall and pulling his arm back, the ball launched out the glove to provide new life to Mang and the Lobos.
T9 | JARED FREAKING MANG! After getting new life from this pic.twitter.com/TqQQ558Hq3
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 28, 2019
Mang wasted no time with the fresh opportunity and sharply lined a single into centerfield to force home the tying and go-ahead runs for the Lobos.
He does this! #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/U3GpOu49gQ
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 28, 2019
Suddenly now leading by a run, 5-4, the Lobos called upon Malachi Emond from the bullpen to nail the victory down.
Emond made quick work of the first two batters and got to 0-2 on the Wildcats third batter in the inning. That batter would reach base safely on an infield single up the middle to second base. With the tying run on base and potential game-winning run at the plate, Emond needed just one more pitch to seal the deal on his third save of the season as he induced a fielder’s choice to Justin Watari for the final out.
The Lobos will now head home and prepare for their Mountain West opening series against San Jose State. The three-game slate is scheduled to begin Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. at Santa Ana Star Field.