Rebels’ big first inning snaps Lobos’ winning streak
LAS VEGAS – A five-run first inning by host UNLV on Saturday afternoon at Earl E. Wilson Stadium proved too large to overcome for the New Mexico baseball team, which fell 7-5 in Game 2 of a Mountain West Conference series.
The Lobos (23-18, 11-11 MW) worked hard for a game-long comeback effort, but fell short in the end as they snapped a five-game winning streak. The Rebels improved to 18-26 overall and are now 9-14 in league play with the victory.
Reed Spenrath homered twice to assume the Mountain West lead, as he upped his season total to 18 long balls with a pair of solo shots. Devon Dixon went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Dylan Ditzenberger was 2-for-4 in a game where the Lobos managed eight hits and stranded seven runners on base.
Tristin Lively battled back after allowing five runs in the first, and got through 5 2/3 innings allowing six runs – four earned – on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks. Jaren Jackson gave up one run in 1 1/3 innings of relief, and Justin Still tossed a scoreless eighth to complete the game on the hill for the Lobos.
UNLV starter Josh Sharman made quick work of the Lobos in the top of the first, retiring the side in order. The Rebels responded with their biggest inning of the series thus far, bringing home five runs in the bottom of the first to jump ahead early. Jacob Sharp hit a three-run home run in the inning, and the hosts took advantage of a one-out error to take a 5-0 lead.
Lively settled in with a clean bottom of the second, and the Lobos got on the board in the third. Back-to-back doubles by Dixon and Chase Weissenborn followed by a single from Ditzenberger made it a 5-2 ballgame.
Spenrath led off the fourth with a solo home run, getting one more back from the Lobos as the offense continued to chip away.
The Rebels tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out, RBI-single off the bat of Ryan Charles, which pushed the score to 6-3 midway through the game. The Lobos responded in the top of the sixth, with Spenrath once again leading off the frame with a solo home run to left field. Ditzenberger came through with an RBI-single to get the Lobos within a run, down 6-5.
Dixon helped Jackson to a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh, battling the sun on a high pop up and making a diving catch in center field to end the inning.
The Lobos got the tying run aboard in the top of the eighth, but UNLV reliever Jack Sellinger worked out of trouble and moved his team three outs from victory. A sacrifice fly by Edarian Williams supplied the Rebels with an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, but Still was able to strand the bases loaded to keep the score at 7-5. The frame ended with a leaping snag by Ditzenberger at third base, as he saved at least one run from scoring.
Sellinger made quick work of the Lobos in the top of the ninth, as he prevented the tying run from reaching the plate. He completed his first save of the year, allowing just three baserunners while striking out five across his 3 1/3 shutout innings of work. Sharman was the victor for UNLV, keeping his team in front by allowing five runs – four earned – on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in his 5 2/3 innings.
LOBO NOTES: UNM is now 86-101 all-time against UNLV and is 42-72 in games played in Las Vegas…Spenrath’s home runs were the 41st and 42nd of his collegiate career…it was Spenrath’s sixth-career multi-homer game and his third of the season…with their two home runs on Saturday, the Lobos upped their season total to 78 which ranks fifth in UNM single-season history…Lively surpassed 150 career strikeouts on Saturday.
UP NEXT: The series concludes on Sunday, as the rubber match is scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. MDT first pitch.