Lobos Make A Near Comeback in Season Finale Versus San Diego State
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — From not knowing whether The University of New Mexico baseball team would be able to play at home this season to closing out the season at Santa Ana Star Field, it’s safe to say that the 2020-21 campaign for the Lobos was unlike any other. The season came to a close on Saturday as the Lobos fell 11-10 to San Diego State in a near-comeback thriller.
The Aztecs were the first to get on the board in the first inning, jumping ahead 3-0. The Lobos cut the lead to just one in the second inning after Harry Fullerton brought in Mang, and Lance Russell brought in Willie Cano.
San Diego State answered back in the third inning, but the Lobos made it a tied game in the fourth after Russell hit a ball that tripped up the shortstop, allowing the senior to reach base safely. On the play, both Fullerton and Cano scored.
The Lobos held the Aztecs scoreless through the next two innings, but SDSU managed to score a total of seven runs through the sixth and seventh innings.
New Mexico knew they had to answer back big, and they did just that in the seventh inning. Castillo started the Lobo comeback by singling through the right side with bases loaded and scored Shane Podsednik. Next up to pinch-hit was Tresten Kennard, who was walked with bases loaded, which scored Adam Schneider. Connor Mang then flew out to left field to score Mack Chambers.
After a pitching change, Cano came to the plate and scored Castillo after grounding out to the shortstop. Fullerton brought the game to 11-9 after delivering an RBI triple to the right-center of the field as Kennard scored.
With the momentum now in their favor in the eighth inning, Castillo managed to bring the game within one as he singled through the right side to score Podsednik. The Lobos went into the ninth in search of a walk-off opportunity but fell short, dropping the season finale 11-10.
Schneider, Chambers, Castillo, Cano, Fullerton, and Podsednik all tallied two hits in the game each, for a total of 14 by the Lobos. Lance Russel tallied four RBI, and Fullerton and Castillo both finished with two RBI.
This game was the last for the Lobos’ 15 seniors and for head coach Ray Birmingham, who has retired as the winningest baseball coach in the state of New Mexico, amassing a 1,232-664-6 record.
The Lobos finish the season with a 16-24 record, going 10-16 in conference play.