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Lobos Take Down No. 9 Texas Tech by Way of David Walk-Off Homer

by Alma Solis

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico baseball team fought back from an early six-run deficit to take down No. 9 nationally ranked Texas Tech, 11-10, capped off by a heroic walk-off three-run homerun by sophomore Jeffrey David. 

The last time the Lobos defeated the Red Raiders was on April 3, 2019, when New Mexico took a 12-9 win over the then-No. 11 Texas Tech squad. New Mexico last won a matchup against a top-ten team on April 25, 2017, against none other than the then-No. 6 Red Raiders, defeating Tech by a score of 16-5. 

David highlighted the game as he hit the walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth while also having a 4-for-6 day at the plate with three RBI and a run. Kyle Landers went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run. Six more Lobos had multi-hit games as Sean Stephens, Lenny Junior Ashby, Braydon Runion, Kamron Willman, Justin Olson and Johnny (Shane) Podsednik notched two hits apiece. Ashby also connected for his team-leading ninth home run of the season, while Podsednik hit his third homer of the season.  

On the mound, Benjamin Baker-Livingston had his best and longest outing yet as he struck out three batters and allowed a single run on two hits in 2.1 innings pitched. The Lobos’ Friday ace Riley Egloff came in to close out the game and get the final two outs in the ninth inning, earning his fifth win of the season. 

The Red Raiders jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after two and a half innings. The Lobos’ starting pitcher Terrell Hudson had a shortened two-inning outing but left the game with a strikeout and forced a double play to end the second.  

Will Armbruester came in to relieve Hudson in the top of the third, allowing a run to score but also notching a strikeout in the frame. 

In the bottom of the frame, New Mexico went to work at the plate, scoring three runs to cut their deficit to 6-3. With two outs and Stephens on third, Ashby tested the waters as he swung and missed on the first pitch he saw in the at-bat. He knew what he was looking for as he swung and connected on the second pitch he saw, launching it right field for a two-run homerun, his ninth of the season. 

Runion then worked a full count and doubled down the left field line, before Landers singled up the middle to bring him home. 

The fourth inning went without a score change as Armbruester struck out one batter and forced two fly outs. 

Texas Tech then brought around a trio of runs through the fifth and sixth innings to extend its advantage to 9-3.  

New Mexico then responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut their deficit to 9-5. Podsednik swung on the first pitch he saw to start the inning with a solo home run, his third jack on the season. 

Two singles then put Stephens on third and David on first for Ashby. He delivered as he singled down the left field line to bring home Stephens. 

Baker-Livingston then pitched two perfect innings through the seventh and eighth, striking out three batters in that span and letting the Lobos get to work in their half of those frames. 

The Lobos scattered two runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings, cutting their deficit to 9-7. In the bottom of the seventh, Landers opened the inning with a single and then advanced to second as Willman was walked. A groundout by Olson then put both runners in scoring position as Podsednik stepped up to the plate next. Down 0-2 in the pitch count, Podsednik grounded out to short, enough to bring home Landers from third. 

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Runion singled through the left side before advancing to second on a throwing error by the pitcher. Adam Schneider then came in to pinch run for Runion and quickly advanced to third on a wild pitch. Next, Landers won a full 3-2 pitch count to drive in Schneider. 

Texas Tech extended their lead to 10-7 as they brought in another run in the top of the ninth, but didn’t get farther than that as the Lobos’ usual Friday starter Egloff came in to relieve Baker-Livingston to force the final two outs of the frame on a pop up and fly out.  

The Lobos then went to work in the bottom of the frame. Olson began the inning with a double to right field, before he advanced to third on a groundout by pinch hitter Lance Russell. Another pinch hitter in Kyle Smith stepped up to the plate, battled through a 2-2 count and then singled to center field to drive home Olson, cutting the Lobo deficit to 10-8. 

Pinch hitting for Stephens, Cody Holtz battled through a full 3-2 count to double right center, advancing Smith in the process. David then stepped up to the plate, watched one pitch float outside the strike zone before finding a pitch he liked. On the second pitch of the at-bat, David came in clutch and launched a three-run homerun just inside the foul pole and into the trees past the right field line, completing the walk-off 11-10 New Mexico win over No. 9 Texas Tech. 

New Mexico’s record improves to 15-21 overall, while No. 9 Texas Tech drops to 27-13 overall. 

The Lobos travel to Las Vegas to face the MW leader UNLV for a three-game series this upcoming weekend (April 22-24). First pitch for Friday’s series opener is set for 7:05 p.m. (MT) at Earl E. Wilson Stadium. Saturday’s game is set for 2:05 p.m. and Sunday’s closer is set for 12:05 p.m. 

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