Olson Homers Twice, Lobos Fall in Series Finale at Nevada
RENO, Nev. — The University of New Mexico baseball team dropped the final game of a three-game series, 13-4, to the Nevada Wolf Pack on Sunday afternoon at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.
Justin Olson led the Lobos as he went 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI, hitting two home runs in the game. Terrell Hudson had an extremely efficient outing as he used 38 pitches to get through 3.1 innings, being responsible for three runs at the end of his outing. Owen Loesch closed out the final 1.2 innings and held the Wolf Pack scoreless and hitless during that span.
After a scoreless first inning, the Lobos got things started in the top of the second frame. The Kyle duo of Kyle Landers and Kyle Smith started off the inning with two back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners with no outs. Willie Cano the grounded into a double play on the next pitch but that was enough to bring Landers home from third and give the Lobos a 1-0 lead.
The Wolf Pack quickly tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame. After southpaw starter Justin Still struck out the first batter, a solo home run knotted the game up. In the next inning, Nevada added three more to take a 4-1 lead as a three-run home run did the job for the Pack. The Lobos struggled to get a runner on through the third and fourth as the Pack continued to add to their lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Nevada brought home another four runs on two back-to-back home runs, extending their lead to 8-1.
New Mexico had more success in the top of the fifth. After Smith struck out to start the inning, Cano tripled on the second pitch he saw before Olson launched a two-run home run to left field, cutting the Lobo deficit to 8-3. Hudson sat down the Wolf Pack in order in the bottom of the inning, using a flyout. foul out and strikeout to get the job done.
The sixth inning went without a score change as Hudson continued to hold up his side of the inning with his second straight three up-three down inning, including two groundouts and a strikeout. Nevada then exploded for five runs to take a 13-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the eighth, Olson won a full count as he hit a solo home run down the left field line to start the inning and cut the Lobo deficit to 13-4.
Loesch sat down the Wolf Pack in order on a groundout and two flyouts, but the Lobos were unable to find base runners in the last inning. New Mexico fell, 13-4, to Nevada in the series opener.
New Mexico’s record falls to 18-28 overall and 9-18 in Mountain West play, while Nevada’s record improves to 25-21 overall and 15-9 in conference action.
The Lobos return home to host New Mexico State on Tuesday, May 10. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (MT) at Santa Ana Star Field. This marks the third of four games against the two in-state rivals this season.
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