Lobos' Rally Falls Short in Home Opener, 16-15
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Baseball racked up 23 hits but came one run short of extra innings after falling behind 16-9 in the fifth inning of its Home Opener matchup with Northern Colorado Friday at Santa Ana Star Field, plating six runs over the final four innings but ultimately losing 16-15.
The Lobos blanked the Bears over the final four innings thanks to a shutdown relief effort from Josh Barnhouse, who struck out three with no walks while retiring 13 of the final 15 UNC batters of the game. RHP Jack Messmore (3.0 IP, 5 H, 6 R/5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) got the Lobos out of some tight spots early after starter Dayne Pengelly’s departure in the second inning but was tagged with the loss to drop to 0-1 in games of record after giving up five of UNC’s eight runs in the fifth.
UNM outhit Northern Colorado 23-20 thanks to six players – Jordy Oriach, Ethan Ott, Brodey Williams, Josh McAlister, Akili Carris, and Karsen Waslefsky – that finished with three hits each, with Oriach and Ott both hitting two doubles each. The Lobos finished the game with six doubles, the most in a single game since last April, when they also hit six in a loss to Sam Houston at home. Ethan Ott led the team with four RBIs, while McAlister and Walker each added two stolen bases.
Will Asby and Khalil Walker both added two more hits each and Cooper Brass extended his hit streak to four games with a single to round things out.
ON DECK
The Lobos will play a doubleheader with the Bears on Saturday, with the first game set for a 12 p.m. MT first pitch and the second slated to begin 45 minutes after its conclusion. All of UNM’s Home Opening Weekend will be broadcast for free via the Mountain West Network, with live stats, streaming options and more available via GoLobos.com/BSBGameDay. Follow @UNMLoboBaseball on IG, X and Facebook for comprehensive coverage, promotional updates, behind-the-scenes content and more.
PLAY OF THE GAME
Josh McAlister goes and gets it in right field for a tough out in the top of the fourth.
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗔 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬 from @JoshMcAlister4_‼️@SportsCenter #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/dvxF1RCmvJ
— UNM Baseball (@UNMLoboBaseball) February 21, 2025
ALL-TIME SERIES
With the loss, UNM is 30-11 against Northern Colorado all-time in a series that dates back to 1959, with all but one of those games (1962 in Greeley, Colo.) taking place in Albuquerque. The loss snaps a streak of 12 straight wins against the Bears dating back to 2010 – in their last weekend series in 2023, UNM cracked double-digit runs in all three games to sweep the Bears (30-1, 11-3, 18-2 [7 Inn.]).
