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Lobos Drop Final Game at Wichita State

by Alma Solis

WICHITA, Kan. – The University of New Mexico baseball team dropped its final game of the three-game series against Wichita State by a final score of 13-7 on Sunday morning at Eck Stadium.

Lenny Junior Ashby led the Lobos as he went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run. Coming in to replace Willie Cano in the batting order, Lance Russell went a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles, a walk, a run and an RBI.

The Shockers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead as they exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first. Despite that, starting pitcher Tristin Lively ended the inning with two strikeouts.

The Lobos got something going in the top of the second as three walks loaded the bases, but were unable to plate a run. In the bottom of the frame, Wichita State plated a couple more runs to extend their lead to 7-0. Matt Haley then came in to relieve Lively and forced a groundout and a double play to get out of the inning.

The third inning went scoreless, but not without Haley striking out two and Chase Weissenborn making an outstanding over the shoulder catch.

Wichita State scattered five runs through the fourth and fifth innings to make the score 12-0. In the sixth inning, the Lobos picked up their first hit of the game as Kyle Landers launched his first home run of the season to right field. Then, pinch hitting for Willie Cano, L. Russell was walked. Another pinch hitter, Kyle Smith saw the ball well to send it past center field for his first home run of the season too, chipping away at the Lobos’ deficit to make the score 12-3.

Aaron Makil kept the Shockers at bay in the bottom of the sixth as he allowed one single but then forced two fly outs and a groundout.

The Lobos continued to attempt a comeback as they plated another two runs in the seventh. Sean Stephens came in to pinch hit for Jeffrey David, hitting a single and then advancing to second on an error by the Shockers’ third baseman. Ashby then stepped up to the plate and drove Stephens home with a single of his own.

After Jack Silverman was walked and Ashby moved up to second, Landers popped up to bring L. Russell to the plate with two outs and two on. L. Russell then ripped a ball down the right field line to bring home Ashby and cut Wichita State’s lead to 12-5.

After the stretch, Jacob Strmiska came in to relieve Makil, successfully shutting down the Shockers as he forced a double play and a swinging strikeout.

Weissenborn started the eighth off with single, then Posey was hit by pitch to put runners of first and second. Justin Olson flied out to right field and runners stayed put. Stephens then fouled out to right field, far enough out for Weissenborn to advance to third and Posey to second. Ashby then stepped up to the plate and hit a two-run double to score both runners and make the score 12-7, still in favor of the Shockers.

Wichita State plated another run in the bottom of the frame to extend their lead to 13-7. L. Russell hit his second double of the game in the ninth, but New Mexico was unable to comeback from the deficit as they fell to the Shockers, 13-7, in the final game of the series.

New Mexico’s overall record falls to 8-12, while Wichita State’s record sits at 9-10.

The Lobos return home to host No. 16 Arizona on March 22. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (MT) at Santa Ana Star Field.

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