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Braydon Runion (15) homered in each game Saturday to help New Mexico sweep a doubleheader from Northern Colorado.

Lobos sweep DH from Bears Saturday

by Evan O'Kelly

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Taking both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday at Santa Ana Star Field, New Mexico’s baseball team topped visiting Northern Colorado twice to extend its winning streak to four games.

The Lobos (6-1) rallied late on their way to an 11-3 triumph in Game 1, before blowing the Bears away in an 18-2 rout in the seven-inning Game 2.

Braydon Runion homered in each game for UNM, finishing the day going 5-for-8 with four RBIs and four runs scored. Justin Olson hit his first home run of the year in Game 1, and Jake Holland added his first as a Lobo in Game 2. Lenny Junior Ashby led the team with eight RBIs in the doubleheader, as he went 4-for-8 at the plate on the day.

Dylan Ditzenberger extended his reached base streak to 20 games, going 3-for-5 with seven runs scored and adding three walks, a sacrifice fly, and a stolen base. A staff of four Lobo pitchers combined to strike out 12 hitters while issuing just one walk in the doubleheader, as Tristin Lively and Isaac Gallegos each earned victories on Saturday.

Northern Colorado (2-4) managed 16 hits in the doubleheader, with Jake King and Caden Wagner each hitting a solo home run in the second game.

Game 1 – New Mexico 11, Northern Colorado 3

The Lobos took the lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back, on the way to their third straight victory.

Lively and Northern Colorado starter Trey Cruz duked it out over the first four innings, with UNM holding a narrow 2-1 advantage. After Cruz struck out six UNM hitters in his first four frames, the Lobos got to him in the fifth and drove him from the game with two on and one out. Runion followed with an RBI-single to make the score 4-1, and New Mexico piled on from there with seven runs over its final three innings.

Lively got through six innings of work, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and no walks to earn his second victory of the season. Brian McBroom tossed the final three innings to collect his second save of the year, allowing one run on three hits with a strikeout and no walks.

Zack Herrick and Jake Storey combined to throw the final 3 2/3 innings for the Bears, allowing seven runs on five hits with eight walks and two strikeouts.

King, Austin Bunn, and Wagner each had a pair of hits for Northern Colorado, as it totaled 11 knocks, three RBIs, and six runners left on base in Game 1.

Game 2 – New Mexico 18, Northern Colorado 2 (7 Innings)

In his second start in a Lobo uniform, Isaac Gallegos allowed two runs on two hits with four strikeouts and a walk in five innings. The Grants, N.M., native earned his first victory pitching for UNM, and the 16th of his collegiate career overall.

The Lobos didn’t waste any time offensively, plating three runs in the bottom of the first including Runion’s second home run of the day. UNM added five more in the second, with the rally highlighted by a two-run triple off the bat of Jeffrey David.

UNM left no doubt with a six-run fourth inning, which featured key knocks from Ashby and Holland to put the game out of reach.

Veteran left-hander Arthur Steinkamp tossed the final two innings for UNM, allowing three hits while striking out one and walking none in his 2023 season debut.

LOBO NOTES: UNM is now 30-10 all-time against Northern Colorado and is 30-9 in home games against the Bears…the Lobos’ 12 walks drawn in Game 1 Saturday were the most in a game by the team since it drew 11 on May 7, 2022 against Nevada…the Lobos’ streak of consecutive innings without an error came to an end in the second inning of Game 1, after UNM started the 2023 campaign with 48 straight frames of spotless defense…Ditzenberger matched his career single-game best for runs scored for the second game in-a-row, leading the Lobos with four runs in Game 1…Olson’s home run in Game 1 was the fifth of his UNM career and the 12th of his collegiate career overall…with his two home runs Saturday, Runion upped his Lobo career total to 15 and his overall college career total to 31…Game 2 marked the second time in Ashby’s UNM career he has reached five RBIs, as he achieved the feat on April 29, 2022…his collegiate high is six, which he achieved on Feb. 29, 2021 during his career at Odessa College…Holland was one RBI off his collegiate high of five, which he set on Jan. 28, 2022 during his career at Chipola College…Spenrath matched his career high with three walks in Game 2…UNM is off to its best start since going 6-1 at the outset of the 2016 campaign.

COMING UP: The series concludes on Sunday with a noon first pitch set for the final game.