Lobos Blank Spartans, 5-0, in MW Opener

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The University of New Mexico baseball team opened its Mountain West schedule with an exciting 5-0 victory over the San Jose State Spartans at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif., on Friday night.

Junior starting pitcher Riley Egloff (2-0) led the team with an outstanding outing in which he struck out seven batters, all swinging, and allowed no runs on five hits in six innings pitched. Egloff’s seven strikeouts is a new single-game high, his previous record being five strikeouts against San Diego State on May 29, 2021.

After a scoreless first inning in which Egloff recorded all three Spartan outs as swinging strikeouts, the Lobos got on the board first with two runs in the top of the second. A bases-loaded walk to Adam Schneider brought home Justin Olson from third, then a sacrifice fly by Kamron Willman scored Cody Holtz to put the Lobos up, 2-0. Holtz then ended the bottom of the inning as he caught a Spartan stealing at second base.

The Lobos then tacked on another run in the top of the third as a passed ball and the go-ahead from Olson allowed Braydon Runion to score from third, making New Mexico’s advantage 3-0. Egloff whiffed two more in the bottom of the inning to bring his strikeout count to five in three innings.

In the top of the fourth, Jeffrey David ripped a double to left center to bring home Schneider. Willman then scored on a sacrifice fly by Runion to cap off scoring for the night at 5-0.

Although no more scoring plays occurred through the final five frames of the game, there was plenty of action. In the bottom of the fourth inning, an outstanding double play up the middle from second baseman Cole Posey to shortstop Willman to first baseman Olson, plus another great play from Willman to Olson guided starter Egloff to a quick three up-three down inning.

Egloff then struck out two more batters through the fifth and sixth to end his outstanding night after six full innings.

Will Armbruester then came in to relieve Egloff in the seventh inning, striking out three batters and allowing no runs to the Spartans in 1.2 innings pitched. Owen Loesch closed the last 1.1 innings of the game out, getting the last four outs via groundout, another strikeout looking and a double play. The Lobos blanked the Spartans for the conference opener win, 5-0.

New Mexico improves to a 4-5 record (1-0 MW) on the season, while San Jose State sit at 6-4 (0-1 MW).

The Lobos and Spartans are set to continue the conference-opening series with a 3:05 p.m. (MT) game on Saturday afternoon at Excite Ballpark in San Jose, Calif.

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