Open Announce

Lobos Downed By No. 17 Texas Tech

by Alma Solis

LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of New Mexico baseball team suffered a tough loss, 28-2, to the No. 17 nationally-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders on Tuesday night at Rip Griffin Park.

Sean Stephens went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Lenny Junior Ashby extended his hitting streak to 11 games and hitting streak to four games. The Lobos’ pitching staff struck out seven batters, six of them swinging.

The Red Raiders opened scoring in the bottom of the first as they plated a run to take a 1-0 lead. Senior starting pitcher Miguel Reyes Jr started off the inning with a strikeout swinging to Texas Tech’s leadoff man, Zac Vooletich.

Texas Tech then exploded for 16 runs in the bottom of the second. The third inning kept Texas Tech to no runs in the third on a double play and fly out.

The Red Raiders then tacked on two more runs in the fourth, but relief pitcher Justin Flebbe got out of the inning with two strikeouts swinging.

Jacob Strmiska then came in to pitch the fifth and sixth innings, allowing three runs and striking out two.

Through the seventh inning, Jack Murano came in to start the inning but got himself into a jam as he allowed four runs to score. Terrell Hudson then came in to relieve Murano, forcing a fly out and a strikeout swinging to end the inning.

In the eighth, Hudson allowed two runs to score, but ended the inning with a fly out, fielder’s choice out and another strikeout swinging.

The Lobos finally got on the board in the top of the ninth as a fielding error by Texas Tech’s third baseman, Hudson White, allowed Jeffrey David to reach base and Sean Stephens and Lance Russell came in to score. Although they plated a couple runs, the Lobos fell to No. 17 Texas Tech, 28-2 in the first game of the two-game midweek series.

New Mexico’s record drops to 6-10 (3-3 MW), while Texas Tech’s record improves to 15-3 (0-0 Big12).

The Lobos and Red Raiders will face off for the final game of the two-game midweek series on Wednesday at 12 p.m. (MT) at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

New Mexico will then head to Wichita, Kan., for a three-game series against Wichita State on Friday through Sunday.

To keep up with all things Lobo Baseball, follow @UNMLoboBaseball on Twitter and Instagram.