Lobos Sweep Utah Valley Series with Dominant 14-6 Win
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico baseball team had a dominant outing versus Utah Valley, taking down the Wolverines 14-6 at Santa Ana Star Field, sweeping the series. The Lobos went back and forth with the Wolverines before breaking the game open with an eight-run sixth inning.
“New Mexico State split with this team, so it was nice to sweep them for the good ol’ state of New Mexico,” said head coach Ray Birmingham.
The scoring started for the Lobos in the first inning as Adam Schneider scored on a balk, advancing Catillo to second on the play. Later on in the inning, Castillo was brought in off a double from Willie Cano. In the second inning, another double, this time from Shane Podsednik, scored Jared Martin for a 3-0 Lobo lead.
Starting on the mound for the Lobos was Aaron Makil, who kept the Wolverines scoreless through the first two innings without allowing a hit.
Utah Valley scored five runs between the third and fourth innings, four being unearned. The Lobos came alive in the fifth inning, scoring three to reclaim the lead. Lance Russell perfectly placed a hit in centerfield, which scored Schneider. Cano then loaded up the bases with a base hit. Then, with a sacrifice hit, Connor Mang brought in Kyler Castillo to tie the game. Taking the lead was Russell, who made it home on a wild pitch.
The Lobos brought that momentum into the sixth inning as Mack Chambers hit a home run down the left line. The Lobos then loaded the bases with Castillo, Russell, and Cano. Mang lined one softly over the shortstop’s head for a two-RBI single, scoring Castillo and Russell.
With bases again loaded, Tresten Kennard was hit by a pitch that scored Cano. Podsednik then cleared the bases with a three-RBI double down the right-field line, bringing the Lobos to an eight-run inning and a 14-5 lead.
Riley Egloff earned his first win as a Lobo, spending a total of five innings on the mound, allowing just two hits with five strikeouts. Egloff went two straight innings without allowing a hit, which allowed the Lobo offense to get to work. Offensively, Castillo and Podsednik both went three-for-five from the plate. Podsednik posted four RBI’s, two extra-base hits, and a run, and Castillo tallied three runs in the game, including a double. Cano and Russel both posted two hits and an RBI each. Mang finished the game with three RBIs and a hit, and Chambers and Cano both had a hit in the game as well.
Over the weekend, the Lobos tallied 38 hits and 39 runs. The team posted ten or more hits in each of the three games this weekend, serving as the third time this season the team posted double-digit hits through a three-game series.
The Lobos will now head to San Jose, Calif. for a three-game series versus San Jose State, starting with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Lobos will then return home to host San Diego State in the final three games of the season.
To keep up with all things Lobo Baseball, follow @UNMLoboBaseball on Twitter!