Lobos Drop Doubleheader to Air Force
USAFA, Colo. — Despite posting 16 runs on 22 hits through two games, The University of New Mexico baseball team was edged out twice by Air Force in a doubleheader on Saturday. In game one, the Lobos (9-22, 6-14 MW) kept it close with the Falcons (19-18, 11-12) and led the game through two innings before dropping 4-6. The Lobos played catchup in game two but made it a three-run game in the ninth inning, but the comeback was not enough as they fell 12-15.
“In game one, our defense killed us,” said head coach Ray Birmingham. “Then, in game two, our pitching was poor.”
Game One:
The Lobos were held off the board until the third inning until Shane Podsednik hit a leadoff home run, tying the game at one. New Mexico then took the lead in the fourth inning after Kyle Landers hit his seventh double of the season, scoring Lance Russell.
The Falcons answered back by scoring four runs in the sixth inning. The Lobos would have held the Falcons scoreless in the inning, but with bases loaded and two outs on the board, a throwing error allowed the Falcons to score two runs and extend the inning.
The Lobos brought the game within one run in the seventh frame off a two-RBI single from Jacob Gutierrez, scoring Podsednik and Willie Cano on the play. Despite the Lobos’ efforts, the Falcons scored again in the bottom of the inning, and the 4-6 score would serve as the final score.
Justin Armbruester pitched a total of five innings, struck out eight, and allowed just one run. Matt Haley, Miguel Reyes Jr., and Riley Egloff all came in as relief, and Haley was charged with the loss.
Podsednik led the Lobos offensively, going two-for-three from the plate with an RBI and two runs, including a double and a home run. Kyler Castillo, Russell, Landers, and Gutierrez all had a hit in the game.
Game Two:
It seemed as if the Falcons were going to run away with game two of the doubleheader as they led 0-9 after three innings. However, the Lobos started to gain some momentum in the fourth inning when they got on the board as Landers posted another RBI double that scored Russell.
The Lobos brought that momentum into the fifth inning as they went on to score five runs. The scoring started with a homer from Chambers, his fifth of the year. It was then Russell who doubled down the left-field line to score Castillo. Then, another Lobo double, this time by Willie Cano, scored both Landers and Russell. Podsednik then brought home Cano on an RBI single.
Castillo posted his fifth home run of the season in the sixth inning, but the Falcons managed to score two runs in the bottom of the inning for a total of 15 in the game. In the seventh, Chase Weissenborn hit an RBI single to score Podsednik, and Russell then brought Weissenborn home with a base hit of his own.
With two outs on the board in the ninth, Jack Silverman came in the game to pinch-hit and delivered a three-run home run, scoring Castillo and Chambers along with himself.
The Lobos tallied 16 hits in the game, tying a season-high in hits for the team. Castillo, Russell, and Podsednik all went three-for-five from the plate and Castillo and Podsednik each posted an RBI. Russell finished the game with two RBI’s. A total of nine Lobos posted a hit in the game.
The Lobos lead the Falcons 3-2 this season and will close out this three-game series tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Falcon Field.
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