Lobos drop close contest at No. 15 Texas Tech
LUBBOCK, Texas – After splitting the first two games of their season series in Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico and Texas Tech University baseball teams met on Tuesday night at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park for the decisive rubber game. The non-conference tilt was a back-and-forth affair throughout that saw Texas Tech go ahead in the seventh and eventually hold on for a 6-4 win.
The Red Raiders (26-13) took the first advantage in the game as they scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. A half inning later, however, the Lobos (18-22) touched home plate three times to take a 3-2 lead. In that inning, the Lobos loaded the bases with one out thanks to three walks. Once the bases were loaded, Derek Marshall Jr. delivered the Lobos’ first hit of the game as he singled to left field to score Connor Mang and Jeff Deimling. A misplay by the Red Raiders’ left fielder on the play also allowed Reese O’Farrell to score as well.
In the bottom of the second, the Red Raiders loaded the bases with two outs, but nothing came across to score. The Lobos then grabbed a two-run lead, 4-2, in the top of the fourth on a sharp single up the middle by Tanner Baker.
That score held until the bottom of the fifth when the Red Raiders scored twice to tie the game at four-all. The damage that inning could have been worse as the Red Raiders had the bases loaded once more, but the Lobos were able to get out of the inning.
The Red Raiders then turned to their bullpen in the top of the sixth and brought on Taylor Floyd. Floyd went on to retire the Lobos in order over the next three innings. During Floyds’ outing, the Red Raiders claimed the lead in the game in the bottom of the seventh as they scored twice to take a 6-4 lead.
In the top of the ninth, the Lobos would bring the tying run to the plate as Ediberto Reyes drew a leadoff walk, but Texas Tech closer Clayton Beeter struck out the next three batters to nail down the save.
Brian Coffey was on the downside of the decision for the Lobos and was one of nine pitchers to toe the rubber against the Red Raiders.
The Lobos will now turn their attention to the weekend as they will remain on the road and take on league-leading Fresno State in a three-game Mountain West series. The series with the Bulldogs is set to begin on Friday, April 26 at 7 p.m. (MT).