Lobo Comeback Cut Short in Eight-Inning Game Three Against San Diego State

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Despite battling back from an early 9-1 deficit to get within one run and hitting four home runs, the Lobos’ comeback was cut short after a time cutoff to accommodate San Diego State’s travel, as the University of New Mexico baseball team fell to the Aztecs, 11-8.

Four Lobos hit home runs in today’s matchup, including Jeffrey David, Kyle Landers, Lance Russell and Cole Posey. David led the Lobos as he went 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBI. Posey went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI. A trio of other Lobos had two-hit games as Lenny Junior Ashby, Kamron Willman and Russell notched two apiece.

San Diego State wasted no time taking a 4-0 lead as they plated four runs in the top of the first. Starting pitcher prevented further damage as he struck out the final batter of the inning. He then forced a three up-three down inning with two fly outs and a groundout in the second.

The Lobos got on the board in the bottom of the second as Russell worked a full 3-2 count and hit a solo home run to left center for his second jack of the season.

The Aztecs then plated five more runs in the third inning to take an early 9-1 advantage. In the fourth inning, Will Armbruester came in to relieve Haley and forced a three up-three down inning, capped off with a strikeout looking.

New Mexico began chipping away at the Aztecs lead as the Lobos scattered seven runs over the fifth through seventh innings. In the fifth, Willman hit a double with the bases loaded to move Braydon Runion to third and bring home Sean Stephens and Jeffrey David. Runion then scored on a sacrifice fly by Landers to make the score 9-4, still in favor of San Diego State.

Armbruester continued to deal as he kept the Aztecs off the board. A “strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out” play ended the sixth with another zero on the board for San Diego State.

Two solo home runs in the bottom of the frame cut the Lobo deficit to 9-6. With one out and a 0-1 count, Posey lifted a solo jack to left center, his third of the season.

A couple batters later, David watched the first ball outside of the strike zone and then unleashed on the next pitch he saw, sending it past the left field line for his third home run of the season.

Justin Still then came in to relieve Armbruester in the seventh, forcing the Aztecs into another scoreless frame, topped off with a strikeout swinging.

In the bottom of the frame, the Lobos cut their deficit to a single run, 9-8. With one out and a 2-2 count, Landers launched a ball past the right field wall for his second home run of the season.

The next few batters reached base by way of a ground-rule double and a walk. Still only one out on the board, Posey stepped up to the plate and hit a single to right field, enough to score a run and make the score 9-8, still in favor of San Diego State.

The Aztecs scored a couple runs in the top of the eighth. The Lobos were unable to come back in the bottom of the frame before the game was cut short after eight innings played and New Mexico fell, 11-8, to San Diego State.

New Mexico’s record falls to 14-21 overall and 6-12 in Mountain West play, while San Diego State’s overall record sits at 10-25 with a conference record of 4-14.

The Lobos host Texas Tech for a single game next Tuesday, April 19. The Red Raiders were originally scheduled to come to town for a two-game series but Monday’s game was canceled and Tuesday’s game was moved from noon to 3 p.m. (MT).

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