Lobos Win Home-Opening Series Over Holy Cross

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team won its first home series of the 2022 season, defeating Holy Cross, 7-2, on Sunday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field, taking three games of the four-game series.

Johnny (Shane) Podsednik led the Lobos in game four as he notched two extra base hits, including a one-run double and a solo home run. On the mound, starting pitcher Miguel Reyes Jr had a good outing as he kept the Crusaders to two runs on six hits and struck out three in 5.1 innings pitched. Kamron Willman had a 2-for-3 outing with a double and two runs against Holy Cross today.

The Lobos got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, as Jeffrey David reached base on an error by the Crusaders’ Nick Wang and Adam Schneider scored on the play.

After a blank second inning, Holy Cross got on the board with one run in the third inning. New Mexico regained a 2-1 lead at the bottom of the inning, as David tripled to left center to score Willman.

The Crusaders tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to knot the game at 2-2, but the Lobos responded with two more in the bottom of the inning. Podsednik ripped a double over the Holy Cross left fielder’s head to drive home Jack Silverman, then Podsednik was brought home on a ground-rule double by Adam Schneider for a 4-2 Lobo lead.

Although no score in the fifth inning, there was plenty of action, highlighted by a fantastic put out by Podsednik to shortstop Willman at second for a big second out of the visitor’s side of the inning.

Reyes got into a jam in the sixth with two on and one out, but Owen Loesch came in to relieve the senior and ended the inning with a double play by Cole Posey to Willman to Silverman.

With two out, none on base and a 2-2 count, Podsednik gave the Lobos some insurance as he jacked a ball out past the left field wall for a 5-2 UNM lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Willman got on base with an one-out double to centerfield. Just a few seconds later, Lenny Junior Ashby swung on the very first pitch he saw, launching it way back past the right field wall. New Mexico now had a 7-2 advantage.

Through the next two innings, Jack Murano came in to close the game, fanning three and allowing no runs on just one hit. The Lobos held on to their 7-2 lead for the win over the Crusaders.

The squad opens the Mountain West schedule in San Jose, Calif., against the San Jose State Spartans on March 4-6. Game times are set for 7:05 p.m. (MT) on Friday, 3:05 p.m. on Saturday and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday.

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