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Lobos shutout BYU for first win of the season

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The University of New Mexico baseball team picked up their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon as they shutout former Mountain West rival BYU by a score of 2-0 at Surprise Stadium.
 
The win showcased an impressive bounce back performance from by the Lobos (1-1). Just a day ago, the Lobos surrendered nine runs in the first inning to No. 25-ranked Oregon State.
 
“After that first inning against Oregon State, we challenged our guys to go out and win every inning after that,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “They have gone out and won the last 17 innings. I am proud of them for that.”
 
On Saturday, the first of a split doubleheader with BYU, the Lobos received dominant pitching performances from a pair of right-handers making their Lobo debuts.
 

Junior transfer and member of the Isleta Pueblo, Aaron Makil got the start and went on to pitch six shutout innings while scattering three hits, three walks and striking out six. Fellow junior transfer Payton Strambler took the ball in the bottom of the seventh and completely overmatched the Cougars (1-1) as he slammed the door shut for his first save of the season. In three innings to close out the game, Strambler did not allow a hit, issued one walk and struck out six.
 
“We got big time pitching performances today from a couple of new arms,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “We also got a game-changing catch in right field by Harry Fullerton and timely hitting in the fourth. This was a good team win.”
 
The play by Fullerton alluded to by Birmingham came in the bottom of the sixth inning. With the Lobos ahead 2-0, BYU was in business early as the leadoff man reached on a throwing error from third base. On the error, Brock Watkins advanced to second base with no outs. The following batter, Hayden Leatham then hit a sinking liner out to right field. Fullerton, who played in left field against Oregon State, went on a dead sprint and laid out to make an incredible catch for the first out. Watkins took third on the snag by Fullerton and kept the Cougars in a prime run-scoring position.
 

 
Makil, however, beared down and struck out Mitch McIntyre for the second out. After a two-out walk, Makil then induced a harmless pop up to shortstop to end the inning and keep the Cougars off the board.
 
Strambler then emerged from the bullpen for the seventh inning and proceeded to assert his dominance en route to the Lobos first shutout of the season. Last year, the Lobos did not register a shutout until the second-to-last game of the year. This year, that first shutout comes in the second game of the season.
 
Offensively, the two runs for the Lobos scored in the fourth inning and chased Cougar starter Cy Nielson. In that inning, Connor Mang laced a one-out single to left field. Mang then moved into scoring position after he stole second. Kemuel Thomas-Rivera followed with a slow moving single up the middle which was fielded by the Cougars’ second baseman. On his attempted throw to first, the ball sailed wide of the bag allowing Mang to score. The very next pitch, Ediberto Reyes pulled the ball into the right-centerfield gap and scored the speedy Thomas-Rivera all the way from first base.
 

The Lobos will now prepare for a second game on Saturday against the Cougars. First-pitch of the nightcap is scheduled for 3 p.m. (MT).

 

 

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