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Lenny Junior Ashby hit his second home run of the season in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Texas Tech.

Red Raiders edge Lobos 6-3 Tuesday

by Evan O'Kelly

LUBBOCK, Texas – In its first midweek game of the 2023 season, New Mexico’s baseball team battled tough in a 6-3 loss at Texas Tech on Tuesday afternoon on Dan Law Field.

The Red Raiders (12-2) scored three runs in the second and three more in the fourth, and made the two scoring bursts hold up on the way to their 11th consecutive home victory to start the season.

New Mexico moved to 9-3 on the season, scoring in the second, third, and seventh innings in its final non-conference game before beginning Mountain West play at home this weekend. Lenny Junior Ashby hit his second home run of the season, and was 3-for-4 with a walk to lead the UNM offense.

The Lobos threatened in the top of the first inning, loading the bases with a walk and a hit batter sandwiching a single off the bat of Braydon Runion. TTU starter Zach Erdman buckled down and got through the jam, stranding all three runners with a harmless flyout off the bat of slugger Jake Holland.

Making his first start of the season, UNM’s Wil Bannister delivered a clean first inning. Dylan Ditzenberger extended his reached base streak to 26 games with a two-out single in the top of the second, and Jeffrey David delivered an RBI-single to put the Lobos ahead 1-0.

The Red Raiders responded in the bottom of the second, as Dillon Carter drilled a two-run double into the right-center gap to put his team in front. Texas Tech drove Bannister from the game by loading the bases, and Lobo reliever Arthur Steinkamp did well to limit the damage getting out of the inning with a line out and a strikeout with the Lobos trailing 3-1.

After Runion drew a walk, Deylan Pigford roped a two-out double into the gap in right-center to get a run back for the Lobos in the top of the third inning.

A leadoff single off the bat of Gavin Kash was erased by a double play, as Steinkamp used his defense and his second strikeout of the day to put up a zero in the bottom of the third. Runion came through with a run-saving throw from right field in the bottom of the fourth, unleashing a perfect strike to home plate to nab Will Burns. Kevin Bazzell delivered a two-run double though, and Texas Tech turned it into a three-run frame to pull ahead 6-2.

Chase Weissenborn got the bottom of the sixth started with a web gem, twirling behind the bag in center field and throwing to Spenrath at first in time to nab Nolen Hester at first base.

New Mexico got a run back with Ashby’s solo home run to lead off the seventh, but a double play turned by the Red Raiders helped curtail the threat after another single from Runion. Pigford walked and then stole second and third in the eighth, but he was stranded 90 feet from home. UNM managed a final hit in the ninth, but left the tying run in the on-deck circle as Texas Tech closed out the game.

Jase Lopez earned the win on the mound, striking out two and allowing two hits in 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief. Trendan Parish tossed three frames for Texas Tech, and Andrew Devine earned his first save of the year throwing the scoreless ninth inning.

After Steinkamp’s two innings of work, Terrell Hudson logged 2 1/3 innings while giving up one run on three hits with a strikeout. Justin Still made it two consecutive scoreless outings to start the season with 1 2/3 innings of work, and Brian McBroom recorded the final two outs for UNM.

The Lobos totaled nine hits and left 11 runners on base, while drawing four walks and striking out five times. Texas Tech meanwhile had 10 hits and 10 runners left on, while striking out four times and walking seven times.

LOBO NOTES: UNM is now 48-80-1 all-time against Texas Tech and is 20-54 in road games…Tuesday marked Bannister’s first start as a Lobo and the 12th overall of his collegiate career…Ditzenberger’s second-inning single extended his hitting streak to eight games…Tuesday was the fourth time in Steinkamp’s career that he struck out two hitters in an appearance…Ashby’s home run was the 19th of his UNM career and the 34th of his collegiate career overall…Runion extended his hitting streak to eight games…Ashby’s reached base streak was extended to 18 games, and Pigford’s reached base streak was extended to 13 games.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Lobos begin Mountain West Conference play this weekend at home, with a three-game series against Air Force kicking off on Friday evening at Santa Ana Star Field.