Lobos Come Up Short in Round Two with Nevada

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Baseball got another dominant performance from its starter on the mound in Game Two of its weekend series with Nevada at Santa Ana Star Field but couldn’t get a run across in nine innings for the first time this season, falling 2-0.

With the series all tied up, the Lobos (26-22, 14-11 MW) turn their attention to a massive rubber match on Senior Day tomorrow at Noon. 13 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the Lobo baseball program pregame.

RHP Brett Russell was tagged for the loss to drop to 4-2 on the season despite one of the best pitching performances of his career – the senior righty only allowed one run over seven innings of work while scattering five hits, striking out three and walking one. He responded with two scoreless frames to keep things under control after the Wolf Pack broke a scoreless tie in the fifth with a pair of singles, but they got one more across on a wild pitch from LHP Jaren Jackson (2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) in the eighth to double the lead.

After erupting for 16 runs on 17 hits in the series opener, the Lobos were held scoreless for the first time this season in round two. UNM matched Nevada with seven hits – led by two apiece from Jake Holland and Will Asby with Reed Spenrath, Tye Wood and Akili Carris all adding one each – but had seven runners stranded on base and seven retired in succession from the sixth through eighth innings.

With three outs left to work with after Jackson retired three of four in the top of the ninth, the Lobos got two runners on with the winning run at the plate but couldn’t string enough hits together to get on the board. After a leadoff single from Holland, Reed Spenrath battled through a 12-pitch at-bat but struck out and Ott flew out to center for the first two outs before Tye Wood singled to bring up Gene Trujillo in a pinch-hit AB. Trujillo worked his way to a full count and deposited the sixth offering into center but was put out at first to end the game.

UP NEXT / FOLLOW THE ACTION
RHP David Lopez will get the start on the bump for the Lobos in Sunday’s rubber match, set for a 12 p.m. MT first pitch. Live streaming for all of this weekend’s series will be available via the MW Network at GoLobos.com/WatchBSB, with live stats at GoLobos.com/BSBStats. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on socials for promotional/marketing and gameday updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.