Lobos Outlast Spartans in Extras, Clinch First MW Tournament Berth Since 2017
SAN JOSE, CALIF. – New Mexico Baseball secured its first trip to the Mountain West Tournament since 2017 in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with the Lobos rallying from down 6-0 after being kept off the board for the first seven innings and fending off San Jose State (22-31, 16-14 MW) in the 11th inning for a 10-9 win.
With the win, the Lobos (28-24, 17-13 MW) earn a No. 2 seed in the conference tournament behind No. 1 seed Air Force (26-26, 18-12 MW), which surged to sole possession of first place with a three-game sweep of Fresno State (29-26, 16-14 MW) over the final weekend of play. They could’ve shared a MW Regular Season title with the Bulldogs if Air Force lost today, but still finish the season in second place — their best finish since winning the regular season title in 2017.
UNM was held to just two hits through seven but produced 12 over the next four innings to take control late, with Will Asby breaking a program record with his fourth grand slam of the year to cap off a six-run eighth that tied things up.
The Lobos never trailed again, adding three more in the top of the ninth but allowing the same in the bottom of the frame to keep things moving into extras. Josh McAlister provided the final go-ahead on a bases-loaded single to center field in the top of the 11th, giving the Lobos a one-run lead that LHP Daxton Purser would make good on.
Purser took the mound to open the 10th and held the Spartans scoreless for the final two frames to slam the door, striking out three and allowing just one hit with no walks to earn the win and improve to 1-2 on the season.
Starting at the DH spot for the first time this weekend, Kyle Smith (1 RBI) came up big with a 3-for-6 day to lead the 14-hit effort for UNM, with Jake Holland (1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB), Chase Weissenborn (2 R, 1 BB) and Josh McAlister (1 R, 1 RBI) all adding two each. Asby drove in five RBI with his grand slam and an RBI single in the following frame that gave the Lobos the go-ahead.
Devon Dixon scored two runs on two walks, with Tye Wood (1 H, 1 R) also drawing a pair of base on balls and Sean Stephens (1 H, 1 RBI) also scoring two runs.
UP NEXT
The Mountain West Tournament at Tony Gwynn Stadium in San Diego, Calif. kicks off on May 23 – the Lobos will face the No. 4-seed Spartans a fourth consecutive time and seventh time this season in their tournament opener.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
⚾️ Highlights from @UNMLoboBaseball‘s 10-9 win against San José State#AtThePeak l #MWBSB l #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/Gk16at8gey
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) May 18, 2024
FINAL MOUNTAIN WEST STANDINGS
| Conference | Overall | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Record | Win % | GB | Record | Win % | Last 10 | Streak |
| 1 |
Air Force |
18-12 | 0.600 | – | 26-26 | 0.500 | 7-3 | 3 Wins |
| 2 |
New Mexico |
17-13 | 0.567 | 1 | 27-24 | 0.529 | 5-5 | 1 Win |
| 3 |
Fresno State |
16-14 | 0.533 | 2 | 29-26 | 0.527 | 2-8 | 5 Losses |
| 3 |
San Jose State |
16-14 | 0.533 | 2 | 22-31 | 0.415 | 4-6 | 1 Loss |
| 3 |
Nevada |
16-14 | 0.533 | 2 | 25-26 | 0.490 | 5-5 | 1 Win |
| 6 |
UNLV |
12-18 | 0.400 | 6 | 26-25 | 0.510 | 3-7 | 1 Loss |
| 7 |
San Diego State |
10-20 | 0.333 | 8 | 17-37 | 0.315 | 6-4 | 1 Loss |
